Dr. Kristi Hottenstein

Dr. Kristi Hottenstein brings two decades of counseling experience to her work in Michigan. She earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Toledo, a master’s in Counseling from the University of La Verne, and a bachelor’s in Sociology from Alma College. She holds the credentials LPC and LPCC and has maintained a counseling practice since 2009. Her style is pragmatic and person-focused. She treats each client as an individual and combines several counseling methods to match a person’s needs. Sessions often include moments of self-reflection, skill building, and practical steps people can try between visits. Kristi uses Trauma-Focused Therapy alongside approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Those methods are woven together based on the situation in front of her rather than following a single blueprint. She addresses a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, eating and sleeping difficulties, addiction, ADHD, career questions, and coping with life changes. Additional areas she focuses on include abandonment, attachment questions, body image, chronic illness, caregiving strain, and communication problems. Outside of direct counseling, Kristi also offers college selection coaching and brings experience from membership and board work with professional counseling organizations. People can expect a collaborative tone that emphasizes increased self-awareness and practical next steps.

How evidence-based approaches work online

Trauma-Focused Therapy helps people process distressing experiences by focusing on how trauma affects thoughts, feelings, and day-to-day reactions. It can be useful for people struggling with the lasting effects of trauma and abuse.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, centers on accepting difficult feelings while clarifying personal values and taking committed action. It often helps with anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills to stay present and move toward meaningful goals.

Kristi treats finding the right approach as a team effort. She will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked in the past. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as therapy progresses.

Session format details are not listed in the therapist biography, so confirm the available online session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow more flexible timing, and reduce travel time. It also lets a therapist and client use exercises, worksheets, and skill practice between meetings so therapy can feel more connected to daily routines.