Meet Kristen Suleman, LPC
Hi, I’m Kristen
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
I am a neurodivergent deep feeler, and I know how it feels to be highly sensitive in this world
I am an often overstimulated mom of one toddler and one havapoo dog
I am a recovering people-pleaser and a recovering perfectionist
I am a wife in a multicultural marriage
I am a granddaughter of an immigrant
I am a motherless daughter
I am a white CIS woman, forever unpacking and exploring how that influences my experience of the world and my privileges
I am a social justice advocate and a strong ally of the LGBTQ+ community
I am friends with a diverse group of human beings who I admire and learn from everyday
I am a deep believer in the power of human connection
And, I am so glad that you are considering seeking this space and support for yourself. I truly mean that. I understand how much courage it can take to be here (it took me longer than I’d like to admit to give therapy a fair chance myself), and I think just about everyone could benefit from having a therapist in their lives at some point.
Regardless of our personal circumstances, we all face challenges and stressors. We all live through things that stick with us in ways we might struggle to understand. We all experience pain. We all want to feel fulfilled. We all want to have quality relationships. We all want to connect, to belong, to love. And we all deserve a space to explore the role all of this plays in our lives. A space to understand our stories, what brought us here, and how to move forward with clarity and confidence.
A space to slow down and just be for a little while.
My Background
My career has given me opportunities to work in a variety of therapeutic settings including private practice, nonprofits, hospital units, and school systems. These experiences have helped shape me into the therapist and person I am today. One of my core values as a therapist is making it a priority to ensure that our work together honors all aspects of your identity, including your background, race, culture, religious or spiritual views, gender, sexuality, and more - which means your time in therapy will be customized for your unique needs and your unique experience in this world.
As your therapist,
I will show up for you without judgment and meet you where you are at. My style is professional yet also relatable, warm, and down-to-earth. I am dedicated to creating an open and collaborative relationship with my clients, one in which you feel like you can truly be your most honest and authentic self with me and vice versa. You will find empathy, vulnerability, humor, and gentle accountability woven throughout the therapeutic process with me.
I enjoy helping others learn how to shift their mindset, unlearn beliefs that do not serve them well, and learn how to be nicer to themselves. Together, we will help you understand the beliefs, emotions, and patterns present in your life, gain clarity on where some of your struggles began in the first place, and give you concrete strategies you can use to support your stress and emotions in everyday situations.
As part of my approach to therapy (and honestly, my whole life) I focus strongly on the connection between our mind and our body. I believe in talk therapy, and, I believe it can only take us so far. That being said, I incorporate somatic practices and nervous system awareness into our time together to enhance your healing work.
What I hope you take with you from therapy,
My hope is that things will ultimately feel less heavy and more manageable. Your confidence will increase. You will have more clarity. Your relationships will feel more satisfying. And you will feel more hopeful and invigorated about your life and your future.
Who I Work Well With
Perfectionists. Moms. Queers. Introverts. Highly Sensitive People. ADHD-ers. People pleasers. Other therapists. High-achievers. People struggling with feeling “good enough”. People struggling with feeling like they are “doing enough”. People who have a hard time relaxing. People struggling with depression, anxiety, or overwhelm. People in transition. People who have experienced childhood emotional neglect. People grieving. People hoping to learn how to be kinder to themselves. People who ask themselves the big questions about life and choices and meaning. People longing for more presence and acceptance.
Why I Became a Therapist
I know what it’s like to witness family dysfunction and I deeply understand the generational impacts it can have. This is top of mind for me, especially as a parent myself, and I have a soft spot for all of the “cycle-breakers” out there.
Alongside that, I am a big believer in the domino effect that our health plays in the larger picture. When we take care of ourselves and support our well-being, we are also indirectly helping to support the well-beings of those who we influence, those within our circle, and those within our communities. I believe it is extremely brave and loving to take time to examine ourselves for the betterment of our individual experiences as well as for the collective.
On a more personal note, I also consider myself to be deeply familiar with caregiving stress and grief. To be transparent, I have been drawn to the helping professions since I was a pre-teen; however, once my mom became terminally ill in my early 20’s, I learned just how complex the human experience is. Navigating her illness and death was what solidified for me that this is the line of work I ultimately wanted and needed to be in.
I am grateful for the opportunity to work in this field and I am passionate about helping others enhance their mental & emotional health. If you would like to learn more about how it feels to work with me, please contact me for a complimentary consultation. If I am not the best fit for you, I will do my best to help connect you with the support that you need.
Education & Training
Bachelor’s of Arts in Communications, Texas A&M University
Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Houston
EMDR Trained Therapist
Certified in EXRP/ERP Therapy
Modalities I Draw From
Humanistic Therapy, Attachment Theory, Somatic Practices, Polyvagal Theory, Mindfulness Practices, Self-Compassion Work, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Existential Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP/EXRP), Parts Work
More About Me
In my personal life, you can find me chasing my toddler around, desperately trying to find new systems to make my life easier, collecting books I hope to read one day, attempting to have an uninterrupted conversation with my husband, slowly keeping up with a few fav TV shows, or cherishing a coffee date with a friend (or with myself!)
I also love to travel and educate myself about different countries and cultures, and I enjoy finding creative ways to express myself. This basically means that I love a good theme, so whether it’s a birthday, seasonal event, or costume party, you can probably find me having way too much fun with it!