Hello and welcome. My name is Kristin Allen, and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida with 11 years of clinical experience. I have worked in a variety of practice settings, including private practice, community mental health, and inpatient treatment centers. I began my career in Kentucky and moved to Florida in 2015. I received my undergraduate degree in psychology from Georgetown College and my master’s degree in clinical psychology from Eastern Kentucky University. My approach to treatment is first to help my clients to feel safe, accepted, and understood. Research suggests that one of the most significant predictors of therapy success is the quality of the therapeutic relationship, so I consider this a critical component of my work. I draw from a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy to help clients to identify areas in which they’d like to better understand themselves and to support their process in areas where they seek personal growth. The benefit of these approaches is that they simultaneously promote self-acceptance and compassion while also encouraging the development of increased self-awareness and skill-building. Many times, an important aspect of therapy is exploring and accepting our unique identities, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, racial identity, etc, These identities influence our previous and current experiences, which often shapes our perspectives about ourselves and others. It is my goal as a therapist to help my clients to explore, process, and ultimately embrace their whole and authentic selves and to build and strengthen supportive connections with others.