Kristi Whitford

Kristi Whitford is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida with about 20 years of experience supporting people through crisis and life stress. She focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, and parenting issues.

Kristi uses a client-centered way of working. She listens, reflects, and helps people notice what matters most to them. Sessions are practical and conversational rather than full of jargon. She aims to help clients make small, workable changes when life feels overwhelming.

Her background includes long experience with mental health crises, trauma, adjustment disorders, and relational challenges between adults and parents and children. Kristi also has experience related to adoption and foster care, caregiving stress, chronic illness and pain, cancer, and codependency. She works with issues that often come alongside these concerns, such as communication problems, family of origin issues, and coping after separation or loss.

Kristi draws on several approaches to guide work together. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice thoughts and focus on values. Client-centered methods make space for people to name what they need. Motivational Interviewing supports commitment to change, and solution-focused tools help set concrete next steps.

People who are unsure what to do next about work, relationships, or parenting may find her practical style useful for sorting options and testing changes. She practices in Florida and works in English.

How her approaches translate to online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting led around by them, and then choose actions based on personal values. It often helps with anxiety, low mood, and feeling stuck. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so the person can name what matters and what to try next. That approach supports conversations about relationships, parenting, and life direction.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kristi will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as needed in later sessions. The process is collaborative and paced to what the person wants to test in daily life.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or medical appointments. They also support shorter check-ins, phone-only conversations when video is difficult, and the chance to practice new behaviors between meetings. These practical benefits help people try changes without major schedule disruption.