Kristen Gaughan, LPC

Kristen Gaughan is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania with 23 years of experience in behavioral health. She decided to become a counselor at 13 and has since worked across many treatment settings. Kristen focuses on helping people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns, and other life challenges.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from York College of Pennsylvania with a double major in psychology and sociology, plus minors in criminal justice corrections and German. She earned a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Kristen has long experience addressing substance use and process addictions like gambling, eating, and sex or spending problems.

In sessions she brings a straightforward, caring approach. She listens for patterns from a person's history and pays attention to how emotions show up in relationships. She also uses practical problem-solving to help people manage immediate stressors and cravings.

Clients can expect collaboration on goals and steps they can try between meetings. Kristen emphasizes small, achievable changes that add up over time. She aims to help people move toward greater calm, connection, and satisfaction.

Her work is driven by a genuine commitment to client well-being. She aims to support people through grief, caregiving stress, career shifts, ADHD, bipolar challenges, and the ups and downs that follow separation or loss. Kristen welcomes international clients and conducts work in English.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online

Kristen uses Client-Centered Therapy to focus on each person's experience and priorities, offering space for clients to describe what matters most and helping them set their own goals. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people understand patterns in close relationships and the emotions that drive those patterns, which can be useful for intimacy-related struggles and attachment concerns. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative way to weigh options and strengthen motivation for change, often used when addressing addictions or ambivalence about making a change.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kristen collaborates with clients to choose or blend methods based on their goals, needs, and preferences. She will check in and adjust the plan as things shift so the approach stays practical and relevant.

The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They also let a person join from different locations when schedules or life demands change. Licensed professionals can adapt Client-Centered, EFT, and Motivational Interviewing techniques to an online setting to keep conversations focused and goal-oriented.