Profile / United States
Kristine Donaldson, LCSW
Illinois
LCSW - Anxiety and mood concerns
See online therapy options- Anxiety and depression
- Coping skills
- CBT and DBT methods
About Kristine
Kristine Donaldson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois with 14 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing depression, anxiety, compassion fatigue, and a range of life stresses. Kristine helps clients who are struggling with relationships, grief, addiction, parenting concerns, and mood conditions such as bipolar disorder.
She focuses on clear, practical steps in therapy. Sessions commonly address unhelpful thoughts and habits, build coping skills, and practice new ways of responding to hard situations. Kristine uses approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and mindfulness-based tools.
Her style centers on working together to set concrete goals and try specific strategies between sessions. That may mean tracking thoughts and moods, rehearsing communication skills, or using grounding and breathing practices to manage intense emotions. Homework and skill practice are presented as short, doable steps.
Kristine also addresses practical life stressors like workplace problems, money concerns, and career questions. She can help with panic attacks, obsessive thoughts and compulsions, social anxiety, and seasonal mood shifts. Treatment plans are adjusted as progress is reviewed.
Sessions are conducted in English and follow the therapist's clinical judgment about which methods to use. Prospective clients are asked to confirm current session options before booking and to follow the site process to schedule an initial appointment.
How Kristine applies structured therapies online
Kristine commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in online work. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new ways of thinking and behaving to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. DBT emphasizes skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and practicing interpersonal effectiveness in real situations.EMDR and mindfulness techniques may also be offered when appropriate to address trauma and to build present-moment awareness. Those approaches involve guided processing or attention exercises to reduce distress linked to past events and to increase tolerance of difficult feelings.
Finding the right approach is part of the initial work. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that match those goals, and adjust the plan as progress is reviewed. Clients and therapist collaborate on which tools to prioritize and how to apply them between sessions.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or reduce travel time. Discuss the preferred rhythm and practical arrangements during the first appointment to decide what will fit into daily life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief, trauma, addictions, relationship and parenting issues, and related concerns such as guilt, shame, and workplace problems.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and to test different responses. Sessions include practical exercises and short assignments to practice between meetings.
What is her clinical background?
Kristine holds an LCSW and has 14 years of experience in clinical practice working with a range of mood and stress-related concerns.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm specific pricing during the sign-up process.
What steps are involved to begin?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.