Kirstina Quast , LICSW

Kirstina Quast is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) based in Minnesota who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, parenting challenges, and relationship or intimacy concerns. She also supports those working through adoption and foster care issues, fertility and end-of-life concerns, and career or life transitions. Her approach is practical and person-focused.

Kirstina draws on nine years of clinical experience across adult and children’s mental health, residential treatment, child welfare, and adoption services. She frames therapy around each person’s strengths and real-life goals. Sessions focus on clear steps clients can try between meetings.

She uses attachment-based and client-centered ideas to build trust and understand relational patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is available for those processing traumatic memories.

Kirstina describes herself as creative and pragmatic. She offers problem-solving techniques, narrative work to reframe painful stories, and motivational interviewing to support change. Her style aims to be flexible so therapy fits the person, not the other way around.

People can expect straightforward conversation, practical coping strategies, and collaboration on realistic goals. Kirstina values the courage it takes to seek help and aims to support people through healing and life adjustments.

How her approaches translate to online care

Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and helps people build more secure connections. Online sessions use conversation and reflective exercises to notice these patterns and practice new ways of relating in daily life.

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and meeting people where they are. In video or phone sessions this means she prioritizes hearing the person’s story, validating experience, and supporting the client’s own goals for change.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aims to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Remotely, CBT can include guided exercises, homework between sessions, and short check-ins by chat or text to track progress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and preferences. That choice may shift over time as goals evolve, and treatment plans are adjusted together.

Online therapy offers flexibility and ways to fit care into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging suits brief check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to continue work through transitions, travel, or a hectic schedule.