Meet Kristen Suleman, LPC
Hi, I’m Kristen.
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
I am so glad that you are considering seeking this space and support for yourself. And I truly mean that. I understand how much courage it can take to be here, 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.
So, who am I? Here are a few tidbits:
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 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
As your therapist,
I will help you understand the role that your emotions and your behaviors play in your life, teach you skills to better understand your body and your mind, and empower you to cultivate the type of life experience you want for yourself. 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.
For more information about my background, my approach, and the clients I work with, please see below.
Background & Approach
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 clinician and person I am today. I make 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. In working with me, you will encounter a therapist who is:
trauma-competent
racial-justice-allied
queer-friendly
welcoming of neurodiversity
My therapy approach is informed by my advanced training in trauma therapy techniques, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), as well as behavioral techniques, such as Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP/EXRP). I operate from a relational attachment perspective and often integrate somatic and mindfulness-based techniques into my work as well. More information about the specific types of therapy I offer can be found here.
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.
More About Me
In my personal life, you can find me spending time with my husband, chasing my toddler around, meeting friends for coffee, reading, or attempting to watch my favorite show after my son goes to sleep.
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!