Kirstina Quast, LICSW

Kirstina Quast is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) practicing in Minnesota with nine years of experience as a psychotherapist. She has a broad background across the social service system, including work in adult and children’s mental health, residential treatment, child welfare, and adoption and foster care services. Her training and professional history inform a practice that addresses both individual and family needs.

Kirstina works with a wide range of concerns such as anxiety and depression, stress, parenting and blended family dynamics, trauma and abuse, domestic violence, grief and loss, infertility and adoption-related challenges, mood disorders including bipolar disorder, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, and challenges linked to life transitions and caregiving. She has specialized training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), attachment concerns and adoption competency, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative and experiential methods, and a strengths-based, solution-focused orientation.

Her approach is eclectic and flexible, adapting techniques to fit each person’s needs and preferences. She emphasizes collaborative work, viewing the individual as the expert in their own life, and uses creative problem solving and practical strategies to support progress toward personal goals. Kirstina values the courage it takes to seek help and is committed to accompanying people through change and healing. She looks forward to meeting prospective clients.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care and Connection

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships and current attachment patterns shape emotional responses and interpersonal dynamics. It is often used to address attachment concerns, relationship difficulties, adoption and foster care issues, and family challenges by exploring relational needs and strengthening healthy bonds.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused approach that helps people process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity. EMDR is commonly applied when trauma, abuse, or difficult life events are central to a person’s struggles.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors while building practical coping skills. It is frequently used for anxiety, depression, stress, and other mood or behavior-related concerns.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Kirstina works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time based on progress and feedback.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect with licensed professionals. Video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to schedule care around work, family, caregiving, or geographic constraints. These options support continuity of care and make it possible to access therapeutic support from home or other convenient locations.