Dr. Kristen Colson, Ph.D., LCSW Psychotherapy, PhD, LCSW

Prior to becoming a social worker, I spent a significant amount of time trying to figure out the trajectory of my career. I knew having compassion for all living beings was a born and innate feature and sought to find a career path that would allow me to be an anchor of peace and hope to many. Through conversing, I found myself assisting family members, friends, and even strangers in their lowest moments, which is when I knew being a therapist was for me.

During a marathon race, there are coaches and sources of support to encourage an individual all the way to the finish line. Along the path to the finish line and thereafter, there are hills, side roads, and turns. Those extra obstacles have the ability to make an individual want to quit the marathon. But the coach is there to encourage the individual to continue the marathon and dig deep to pull out their power, their strength, and their ability to keep on going. This analogy is a replica of working with me. I meet the client where they are and help them not only navigate through life but build a positive client-therapist relationship. Working with me is the equivalent of having a conversation about life and stressors and identifying those strengths needed to navigate through hills and side roads when it seems like the marathon is getting tough.

One thing that is inevitable in life is change. The culture of society is constantly changing and evolving. To remain competent in the ever-evolving society, I collaborate with other colleagues in different fields to stay abreast of new information relating to all aspects of social affairs. This includes attending social and cultural seminars, webinars, and competency training.

I am most excited that society is acknowledging the need for mental health treatment and starting to minimize the stigma associated with mental health needs.