Kristi Rakes, LCSW, LISW-CP
Warm, practical support for life changes
Details
| Name | Kristi Rakes |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW, LISW-CP |
| Based in | North Carolina |
| Licensed in | North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 13 |
About Kristi
Kristi Rakes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people find steady ground when life feels overwhelming. She speaks plainly and listens closely so clients can describe what matters most. Kristi aims to help people notice strengths and take practical steps toward feeling better.
She draws on 13 years working in mental health across a range of concerns. That experience informs how she supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, and relationship or intimacy-related struggles.
Background and approach
She also works with people coping with parenting strain, caregiver stress, aging and geriatric concerns, and mood or attention challenges such as bipolar disorder and ADHD. Kristi uses Narrative Therapy alongside client-centered methods to help people rewrite the stories they tell about themselves. She also incorporates cognitive behavioral ideas and mindfulness to help change unhelpful patterns and manage strong emotions.
Motivational interviewing techniques can help when someone wants to make a change but feels stuck. Her approach is straightforward and respectful. Sessions focus on what the person wants to change and on small, realistic steps that fit daily life.
Kristi pays attention to practical needs, such as coping skills for panic or tools to navigate grief. People who prefer clear communication and a warm, nonjudgmental space may find this style helpful. She works from North Carolina and offers therapy in English for adults seeking support with life changes and mental health concerns.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem among the things Kristi works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Kristi among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Kristi among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Kristi among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Kristi among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Kristi among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Kristi among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Kristi directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Kristi directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Approaches you can use online
Kristi often uses Narrative Therapy to help people examine and retell the stories that shape their lives. This method looks at how problems are framed and helps create different, more helpful narratives for relationships, identity, and life goals. Client-Centered Therapy is another core element, which centers the persons experience and aims to build a trusting, respectful conversation where clients set the pace and focus.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, used in short, practical ways, helps identify patterns of thinking and behavior that keep someone stuck and replaces them with doable strategies. These approaches tend to work for stress, anxiety, mood concerns, grief, and behavior changes such as managing compulsions or addictions. Kristi approaches choosing methods collaboratively and will work with each client to find what fits their needs and goals.
Online therapy with Kristi is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different lifestyles. Video is useful for more involved sessions where visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging provide quick check-ins, brief coaching, or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or other daily routines.
Common questions about this listing
What issues does Kristi commonly help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting and caregiver stress, mood disorders, ADHD, and a variety of life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is compassionate and straightforward, with an emphasis on listening and practical steps. She blends narrative, client-centered, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing approaches.
How much experience does she have in mental health?
Kristi has 13 years of experience working in mental health settings and supporting people through a range of concerns.
What credentials and location are on file?
She holds LCSW and LISW-CP credentials and practices from North Carolina.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Kristi offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Kristi are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Kristi where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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