Hey, I'm Kristen
A little self disclosure:
My personal experience has granted me a unique perspective on the therapeutic process. If you’ve already visited my Instagram page @kristenseetherapy, you might have noticed that I am incredibly earnest about my mental health journey. In short: I’ve struggled with conditions like PTSD and ADHD too. I know how intimidating therapy can be as a first timer; I understand how annoying it can be to start over with a new therapist, and I’ve also learned how the right therapist can really make all the difference.
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Throughout most of my education, my course work always seemed to revolve around the human mind. I studied existential philosophy and surrealist art history, wrote major papers and graduate theses on the topics of shame and stigma. I even spent two years focusing on the psychology of representation in visual media (think: pop culture; reality TV, film, fashion, beauty, and music videos) – stuff that can heavily influence how we navigate identity, body image, and interpersonal relationships.
Since becoming a Registered Psychotherapist, my passion has evolved greatly. I now specialize in trauma therapy, specifically supporting folks who identify with traits of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and AuDHD / ADHD. That said, my “bread and butter” is helping all individuals who struggle with emotional regulation, interpersonal conflict and communication, as well as distress tolerance and self-esteem. I often work with clients who feel challenged by anxiety, depression, anger, grief, shame, burnout, and identity – all of which I understand on a personal level. In fact, I believe having my own lived experiences has afforded me the ability to foster secure connections with clients and a knack for acknowledging the nuances of mental illness that are often dismissed.
Fun facts about me:
All video calls will include a free visit from at least 1 of my 3 cats.
I love creative projects. I’m usually updating or renovating my home and creating spaces that inspire better mental health and accommodate neurodiversity in my family.
I’m a big fan of reality TV (like “Love is Blind” and “Love Island”) and shows like “White Lotus”, “The Pit”, and pretty much anything on Apple TV like “Ted Lasso”, “Shrinking”, “Severence” and “Plur1bus”… and of course I love a good psychological thriller or documentary.
I also enjoy yoga, paddle boarding, and spending time in outdoors.
I was raised in a small town in Ontario; I’ve lived and studied in Ottawa, Peterborough, Toronto, and NYC; I currently live in the Greater Toronto Area .
In 2026, my passion project is learning more about the brain and the nervous system. I’m also investing more time in reading classic fiction.
Lessons I’ve learned from my own healing
the healing process is infinite
the healing process is infinite
CLIENTS
I work one-on-one with Individuals; mostly women, age 18+
SPECIALTY
Trauma & attachment wounds, relationship issues, self-esteem, emotional awareness & regulation, distress tolerance.
STYLE
Relaxed and relational; a balance of unbiased encouragement and firm support; respectful of each client as the expert of their experience.
Existential & “person-first” – I love helping clients take control by nurturing their own sense of responsibility for their wellness.
APPROACH
and never linear.
and never linear.
MY VALUES & BELIEFS
1.
I believe everyone can benefit from therapy (assuming you have the right therapist!). I hope to live in a world someday where having a therapist is akin to having a dentist or a family doctor. The reality is mental health and physical health influence one another, so to focus on only one side of the equation, I believe, is a disservice to the self.
2.
All food is good food. You won’t hear any promotion of diet-culture or fatphobia in session with me. I believe you can be healthy at any size; the number on the scale is arbitrary – processing the trauma that inspired a rigid mindset is where the real work is.
You’re allowed to set boundaries or go no-contact with parents and/or family. I will always encourage you to prioritize your peace.
3.
4.
I believe what it means to “heal” is somewhat ephemeral and tends to change as we get older. That is, the more lived experience we acquire, the more awareness we can inject into processes like meaning-making. What feels healed today may take on a new form tomorrow. So, when it comes to therapy, slower is better - it’s important to give the self some room to grow, and that cant be rushed.
How Therapy Works
Psychotherapy, like counselling, is a health care treatment available to anyone who is interested in exploring and teasing out answers to questions such as, “why am I like this?” Maybe you already know some of the answers to your questions and are looking for on-going support through skill-building.
In session it’s not uncommon for us to review childhood and adolescent experiences and work to make connections to present day concerns. Typically, I offer my clients feedback in the form of “psychoeducation” – this can look like providing you with insight on things like trauma and triggers and the role of the nervous system and the brain. I love helping clients make sense of their experiences and a key feature of this work is learning skills like: self-compassion and self-validation; regulating and owning emotional experiences; discerning personal needs and communicating effectively, and generating greater acceptance of things that can’t be changed.
Standard sessions are 50 minutes, and my goal is to make sure this time feels more like a conversation than an interrogation. Like a conversation, sometimes there is silence or pauses for reflection or emotion; sometimes we get a little interactive as we practice skills. Every client approaches this time differently and I aim to respect your agenda and the ways you feel most comfortable unpacking your experiences.