Kristen Zavala, LPCC, LPC

Kristen Zavala is a licensed therapist in New Mexico who supports people facing complex emotional challenges. With a compassionate and collaborative style, she guides clients through anxiety, depression, trauma, and social isolation while offering specialized support for members of the LGBTQ+ community and those processing grief, shame, or major personal transformation.

Her work emphasizes building self-love, strengthening emotional resilience, and fostering meaningful personal growth. Kristen creates an affirming space where clients can explore their experiences and develop practical coping strategies that fit their lives. She approaches healing as a personal journey and partners with each individual to identify goals and steps that feel doable and empowering.

Over the course of her career Kristen has assisted people managing mood disorders, panic attacks, recovery from sexual assault, gender dysphoria, and a range of women’s mental health concerns. She holds professional counselor credentials - LPCC and LPC - which indicate licensure as a counselor qualified to provide clinical services. Her goal is to help clients reconnect with inner strength and make sustainable changes that improve daily functioning and well-being.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Kristen Zavala uses client-centered therapy to place the client's experience at the forefront, offering a nonjudgmental, empathetic space where individuals set the pace and focus. This approach helps with self-exploration, building self-esteem, and navigating life transitions.

She also employs cognitive behavioral therapy - CBT - which helps clients identify and shift unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior. CBT is practical for anxiety, depression, panic symptoms, and other everyday challenges that benefit from structured techniques and goal-oriented work.

Trauma-focused therapy is used when past experiences are interfering with present functioning. This approach prioritizes safety, stabilization, and gradual processing of traumatic memories so clients can reduce distress and regain control over daily life.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Kristen collaborates with clients to determine what fits best based on needs, goals, and personal preferences. She adapts methods over time as progress and challenges emerge.

Online therapy offers flexible access to care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to attend sessions from home, during work breaks, or while managing caregiving responsibilities. These options increase accessibility and make it simpler for clients to engage in consistent, effective work with licensed professionals and therapists.