Christy Forrister, LMFT

Christy Forrister is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who works with individuals, children, adolescents, couples, and families to navigate transitions, relationship challenges, and emotional struggles. An LMFT is a licensed clinician trained to address relationship dynamics and family systems, and Christy combines clinical training with a compassionate, hopeful approach designed to help clients feel heard and respected.

She has supported people facing trauma, family conflict, divorce, anxiety, depression, and co-occurring mental health concerns, as well as the unique needs that arise around adoption. Because her own family was formed through adoption, she brings lived insight into identity, attachment, and the relational patterns that can affect adoptive and blended families.

Christy also attends to cross-cultural and intercultural relationship issues, helping partners and families bridge communication differences, navigate identity development, and integrate cultural values in healthy ways. Her work is grounded in evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and she collaborates with clients to build strengths, develop coping skills, and improve communication to support lasting change.

As a Christian therapist, Christy welcomes clients who want faith integrated into counseling and is honored to incorporate biblical principles and Scripture when requested. She also provides a respectful, nonjudgmental space for people of all backgrounds, offering practical guidance and steady support through difficult seasons.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Therapy and Care

Christy draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve daily functioning. She also uses Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy when people are coping with the effects of traumatic events - this approach combines skill-building with careful processing of traumatic memories to support recovery. Additionally, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and more effective interpersonal communication, which can help with intense emotions and relationship struggles.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Christy works with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and adapts techniques over time so therapy fits each person or family. She partners with clients to build on strengths and to select strategies that feel most useful and sustainable.

Online therapy sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access consistent care from licensed professionals, support engagement during life transitions, and allow therapy to happen from wherever a client is most comfortable.