- Practical skill building
- Values-based work
- Collaborative care
About Kristi
Dr. Kristi Hottenstein brings two decades of counseling experience to her work. She is a licensed professional counselor - LPC and LPCC - based in Michigan. She meets people where they are and focuses on practical ways to manage stress, anxiety, relationships, and everyday habits like sleep and eating.
She earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Toledo, a master’s degree in Counseling from the University of La Verne, and a bachelor’s in Sociology from Alma College. She founded Compass Counseling & Coaching, PLLC and has been involved with the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association, including a board appointment in 2021.
Her approach is holistic and flexible. She uses techniques drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, client-centered methods, and existential ideas. Sessions emphasize self-awareness, values, and practical steps people can take between meetings.
She works with individuals, couples, and teens and also offers college selection coaching. Common concerns she addresses include anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, trauma, ADHD, addiction, and career questions. She also helps with parenting stress, caregiver strain, body image, and adjustment to life changes.
In sessions she encourages clients to accept responsibility for choices while building skills to respond differently. The work is collaborative and grounded in day-to-day practices that aim to fit into a person’s life.
She earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Toledo, a master’s degree in Counseling from the University of La Verne, and a bachelor’s in Sociology from Alma College. She founded Compass Counseling & Coaching, PLLC and has been involved with the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association, including a board appointment in 2021.
Her approach is holistic and flexible. She uses techniques drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, client-centered methods, and existential ideas. Sessions emphasize self-awareness, values, and practical steps people can take between meetings.
She works with individuals, couples, and teens and also offers college selection coaching. Common concerns she addresses include anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, trauma, ADHD, addiction, and career questions. She also helps with parenting stress, caregiver strain, body image, and adjustment to life changes.
In sessions she encourages clients to accept responsibility for choices while building skills to respond differently. The work is collaborative and grounded in day-to-day practices that aim to fit into a person’s life.
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 can work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on clarifying what matters to a person and taking small actions that align with those values while learning to live with difficult thoughts. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and adjusting to life changes.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. It is commonly used for worry, sleep and eating concerns, and mood problems.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, teaches specific skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal communication, and tolerating distress. It can be helpful for anger, relationship difficulties, and emotion regulation challenges.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to figure out which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. This is a shared process that can shift over time as goals evolve.
Session options are not specified here, so confirm available formats before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day - for example a shorter check-in during a lunch break, or choosing an audio-only visit when video is not preferred. Licensed professionals can guide practical steps that translate between meetings and everyday life.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, intimacy issues, addictions, trauma, grief, ADHD, and many everyday life challenges.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is holistic and flexible, focusing on self-awareness, values, and hands-on skills. Sessions aim to translate insights into practical day-to-day changes.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor working in Michigan and running a private practice.
What credentials and location apply?
She holds the credentials LPC and LPCC and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.