Kristine Frank, LCSW
HI, I’m Kristine!
I help Children, Teens, Young Adults, Couples and Families navigate the complexities of life, relationships, and healthy living. I am passionate about fostering emotional well-being and creating a safe space for growth.
Are you supporting a child struggling with managing BIG emotions? Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, or helpless? Are you currently parenting through a difficult transition time such as empty nesting or caretaking for older parents? You are not alone. Navigating the complexities of life can be challenging. I am here to support you. With a focus on children, teens, young adults, couples, and families, I provide a safe and supportive space to address a wide range of issues. Whether you're dealing with behavioral challenges, communication breakdowns, grief/loss, or life transitions, I offer compassionate guidance and effective strategies to strengthen family bonds and foster individual growth.
My approach
I recognize the challenges of busy lives and how difficult it can be to schedule therapy, so my practice is built around the realities of busy families, couples, and individuals. This is why I offer weekend and weeknight sessions. I am passionate about meeting families where they are – which is evident in both my clinical approach and my practical approach to scheduling.
With a gentle yet skilled approach, I provide a safe and supportive space to tell your story. During your time with me, we will journey together to explore your emotions, build stronger connections, and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
When working with children and families, I collaborate with parents so they remain a critical part of the therapeutic journey. I use various methods such as play therapy, mindfulness, art, and parent coaching to accomplish the agreed upon goals and help children build resilience no matter what challenges they face.
When working with young adults, couples, and individuals, we work together to explore what is interfering with your ability to achieve your goals and cope with difficult circumstances. I help you create realistic goals and I provide you with tools specifically designed to address the skills that may be needed, and we check in often throughout the therapy process to ensure our work together is helping you.
I am skilled in using various therapy techniques, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Problem-Solving therapy. I make sure to tailor treatment based on what will work best for the particular client, because each person is truly unique.
In all my of my work, I use a systems approach that includes looking at all the various systems that can impact one’s wellbeing, including family, work, socio-economic, school, religion/church, physical, and psychological. From this holistic approach, I always focus on clients’ strengths, helping them to discover their innate strengths, as well as their goals, dreams, and motivators. I also rely on a strong understanding of the importance of early attachment; I place an emphasis on the ways in which our early experiences with our primary caregivers can significantly impact our current ways of relating and interacting with the world around us.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. I earned a master’s degree in social work with an emphasis on children and family from the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.
My experience includes working with foster families, foster children, and at-risk youth. I also have experience as a therapist intern in a private practice counseling all ages, from children, adolescents, young adults, couples, and older adults.