Dr. Joanna Kristeva, LCSW, LISW

Dr. Joanna Kristeva is a psychotherapist who combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with person-centered, strength-based care to support people navigating trauma, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and major life transitions. Her multicultural background informs a sensitive, culturally aware approach to therapy, and she adapts interventions to each person’s strengths and goals.

She is licensed to practice in New York and Ohio as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW), and brings twelve years of direct clinical experience to her work. Dr. Kristeva completed postgraduate study at New York University and holds a doctorate in philosophy. She also received clinical training in the treatment of psychological trauma and complicated grief counseling at Columbia University.

Her clinical perspective integrates evidence-based methods with depth-oriented lenses, drawing on cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic ideas as well as trauma-focused strategies to address issues such as attachment and abandonment, dissociation, personality-related challenges, isolation, and questions of life purpose. In addition to clinical practice, she is the author of peer-reviewed journal articles and books, and she emphasizes collaborative, tailored care that builds on clients’ resiliency and resources.

Approaches for Online Healing and Therapeutic Growth

Dr. Joanna Kristeva uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; this practical approach is often applied to depression, low self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Trauma-Focused Therapy is used to address the effects of traumatic experiences and complicated grief, offering structured strategies to process painful memories and reduce their impact on daily functioning. Psychodynamic Therapy explores underlying patterns, early relationships, and unconscious themes that can influence current feelings and relationships, which can be helpful for attachment issues, abandonment concerns, and personality-related challenges.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. Dr. Kristeva works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as therapy progresses. Licensed professionals and therapists often combine techniques to tailor care to the individual.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for busy lives. Video calls and phone sessions allow real-time conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging provide flexible options for shorter check-ins or when scheduling is limited. These formats make it easier to engage in consistent care from different locations and at different times, supporting accessibility and continuity of treatment.