Kristen Portney
Counsellor
I specialise in:
About me
I am a graduate of the M.A. in Integral Counseling Psychology program at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and have worked in various settings as a psychotherapist including in Community Mental Health settings such as Bonita House, social rehabilitation for adults with co-occuring mental health and substance abuse diagnoses, and Seeds of Awareness, teaching empathy and social-emotional skills to children, in Berkeley, California. I am also a trained as both an Abortion and Birth Doula through Bay Area Doula Project and Cornerstone Doula Trainings, respectively.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
Whether you are experiencing conflict or transition in relationships or career, are relocating, coping with the illness or death of a loved one, processing pregnancy loss and abortion, or struggling to navigate a mental health diagnosis, I look forward to meeting you where you are at. A core focus of my practice includes issues of self-worth, self-trust, and self-compassion. I believe these pillars of Self are essential in creating and maintaining healthy and fulfilling relationships. Trusting in ourselves is no simple task. We’re not taught how to manage our emotions and successfully build healthy relationships.
Through our work together, using an effective, clear, and compassionate style of relating I will help guide you towards sustainable solitude and harmonious relationships. I utilize somatic techniques rooted in neuroscience to help build safe connections with your body and nervous system; as well as others. Grounding, guided imagery/visualization, and mindfulness exercises help soothe the chaos and get in touch with a sense of ease and presence. From here forward motion happens.
I see clients move towards a life well balanced in rest, play, and connection, and feeling at home in one’s body. Through building self-trust and re-affirming self-worth clients are able to make decisions that are aligned with their value system, create and sustain healthy boundaries, and invite forgiveness and compassion into their lives.
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