Kristin Puleo

Hi, I’m Kristin, a compassionate licensed therapist passionate about helping people heal from life’s toughest experiences while rediscovering joy and lightness along the way. With 15 years of experience in mental health counseling, I am licensed in both Washington and New York State. My practice is grounded in trauma-informed care, creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel truly seen, heard, and respected. I specialize in trauma and PTSD integration, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, and building emotional resilience—especially for those navigating complex past experiences. I bring warmth, empathy, and a great sense of humor to every session because laughter can be a powerful ally in healing—it helps lighten the load, build trust, and remind us that hope and humanity coexist even in hard times. Whether you’re in the Pacific Northwest dealing with burnout or deeper wounds, I’m here to support you with genuine care and gentle humor toward greater freedom and connection.

My approach is integrative and trauma-informed, blending evidence-based modalities to create a flexible, personalized path that fits your unique needs, pace, and goals. I draw from a wide toolkit—including EMDR and other trauma-processing techniques, somatic awareness for body-based regulation, CBT for thought/behavior shifts, mindfulness and acceptance strategies, IFS-inspired parts work, relational/attachment-focused insights, and more—to support holistic healing.

You’re the expert on your life; I provide steady presence, practical tools, and gentle guidance while prioritizing safety and nervous system care, especially when working with trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship patterns, life transitions, or burnout.

Sessions are warm, conversational, and collaborative—real talk with room for reflection, processing, and yes, my great sense of humor! I naturally weave in lightness and playfulness to ease tension, build connection, and remind us that resilience and joy can coexist with pain. Therapy adapts as you do: from immediate coping skills to deeper trauma integration, self-compassion, and empowered living.

In our first session, you’ll step into a warm, relaxed, and judgment-free space—virtual or in-person—where the focus is on building trust and truly understanding you. We’ll start gently: I’ll introduce myself and my approach, review confidentiality and logistics, then invite you to share what brings you here, at whatever pace feels right (no pressure to dive deep right away, especially with trauma in the mix).

I’ll ask thoughtful questions about your experiences, strengths, current challenges, and what you’re hoping to gain—helping us map out initial goals or themes together. Expect active listening, empathy, and a collaborative vibe with some of my natural humor to ease any nerves and make the conversation feel more human and connected.

Most clients leave our first session feeling more informed and knowledgeable about their own patterns, with fresh insights and clarity, noticeably lighter (like some weight has been lifted off their shoulders), and often with a smile or even a laugh—because healing can include lightness and hope from the very start. By the end, you’ll have a sense of being truly seen, a loose plan for moving forward at your pace, and the reassurance that this is a safe, supportive partnership tailored just for you.