- 20 years experience
- Values-based approach
- Michigan licensed LPC
About Kristi
Dr. Kristi Hottenstein is a licensed professional counselor with two decades of experience. She earned a doctorate in higher education administration and a master's in Counseling, and she practices in Michigan. Dr. Hottenstein brings practical, down-to-earth care for people facing life changes and stress.
Her approach treats each person as an individual. She blends several methods to match what a person needs in the moment. Sessions focus on building self-awareness, learning coping skills, and helping people take manageable steps forward.
Dr. Hottenstein works with concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addictions, and challenges linked to health conditions and caregiving. She also supports people with self-esteem, career transitions, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. Her work includes attention to attachment, body image, chronic illness, and blended family stress.
In sessions she uses practical tools from cognitive behavioral approaches and acceptance-based work, alongside client-centered listening and skills from dialectical and existential perspectives. The focus is on what helps someone function better day to day, not on labels.
Clients can expect a collaborative process that emphasizes understanding personal values and setting realistic goals. Dr. Hottenstein also offers college selection coaching alongside counseling for individuals, couples, and teens. She aims to help people find clarity and steady progress amid life transitions.
Her approach treats each person as an individual. She blends several methods to match what a person needs in the moment. Sessions focus on building self-awareness, learning coping skills, and helping people take manageable steps forward.
Dr. Hottenstein works with concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addictions, and challenges linked to health conditions and caregiving. She also supports people with self-esteem, career transitions, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. Her work includes attention to attachment, body image, chronic illness, and blended family stress.
In sessions she uses practical tools from cognitive behavioral approaches and acceptance-based work, alongside client-centered listening and skills from dialectical and existential perspectives. The focus is on what helps someone function better day to day, not on labels.
Clients can expect a collaborative process that emphasizes understanding personal values and setting realistic goals. Dr. Hottenstein also offers college selection coaching alongside counseling for individuals, couples, and teens. She aims to help people find clarity and steady progress amid life transitions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Michigan, Texas, Arizona, California, New Jersey, Virginia
Languages
English
How these approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters most and taking small committed steps toward those values. It helps people cope with stress, chronic health concerns, and life transitions by shifting attention from avoidance to action.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and teaches clear skills to change them. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating concerns, and coping with chronic illness.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort. Sessions can shift over time as priorities change, and together they choose practical steps and exercises to try between meetings.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking because formats are not specified in the profile. Online work can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Many people find remote sessions helpful for maintaining regular progress while juggling caregiving, medical appointments, work, or school.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addictions, and concerns tied to health and caregiving, among other areas.
What is her therapeutic style like?
The style is collaborative and practical. She combines listening with skill-building from several approaches to help people manage day-to-day challenges.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Dr. Hottenstein has about 20 years of experience as a practicing counselor, with work as a clinic owner and board involvement in a professional association.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds LPC and LPCC credentials and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the profile.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.