Kristina Bravo

My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and affirming, with attention to identity, power, and the broader systems that shape our lives. I mostly work with women-identifying, LBGTIQA+, autistics and neurogivergent folx with trauma histories. I've worked in clinical mental health for 25 years in non-profit and for profit agencies in the United States and Mexico. I have degrees in Psychology; Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Depth Psychologies; Counseling, and Community Psychology. I've acquired extensive career and education opportunities that have and continue to demand both personal and professional development.

I show up grounded and confident to travel with you wherever you need to go in your work and healing. I see patterns, dynamics and new paths with ease and intuition, and will share highly individualized suggestions, creative dialogue and novel strategies aimed at your goals.

My work is informed by:

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I trained under Marsha Linehan in Seattle for two years in the early 2000's;

Systems Theory, in other words, the complex dynamics of relationships. I have worked my entire career with couples, immediate family issues, children and parenting relationships, family of origin and professional relationships.

Depth Psychologies (psychologies of the unconscious), that explore symbolism, unconscious content and creative ways of seeing things;

Liberation Psychologies (from Latin America), acknowledging social-political-psychological influences on one's mental health; and I have extensive experience with

Biological Sciences such as exercise, somatic work, and all physical health components that impact mental health.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) a myriad of tools for generative inquiry in session, and tools for implementing desired change outside of session.

First sessions are different future sessions. It's a time for you to begin sharing what you came to therapy for. Sometimes during first sessions that information can come out scattered, or focused on one main issues, and it can also look like letting me know what your day-to-day life is like. I will not interrogate you with questions! This is a time for you to get comfortable, at your own pace, with being in therapy and being with me. I will also be settling into our work together and getting comfortable with you. After the first session, our work will slow down and become more focused as we develop our ways of working together and as you decide what issues to bring into sessions.