Kristi Rakes , LCSW, LISW-CP

Kristi Rakes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and life changes. She brings a warm, nonjudgmental presence and aims to make it easier to talk about difficult feelings. Kristi works with adults on a range of concerns including mood disorders, trauma and abuse, addictions, and issues related to intimacy and relationships.

She uses practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors. Kristi also relies on client-centered and mindfulness approaches to slow things down, listen carefully, and build emotional awareness. Motivational interviewing techniques are used when people want help finding the energy to make changes.

Kristi has 13 years of experience in mental health and holds the credentials LCSW, which is Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and LISW-CP, which is Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice. She practices in North Carolina and offers services in English.

Her work often covers life transitions, caregiver stress, aging and geriatric issues, body image, postpartum depression, and end-of-life concerns. She also addresses ADHD, panic, OCD patterns, and chronic feelings of emptiness or isolation.

Sessions combine straightforward skills practice with time to tell your story. The goal is to help people notice strengths, try small changes, and find clearer direction for their next steps.

How Kristi brings practical approaches to online sessions

Client-centered therapy focuses on being listened to and understood. In practice this means the therapist reflects what matters to you, asks open questions, and follows your priorities so you feel heard and in control of the work. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps you spot thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and then try small, concrete changes to see what helps. CBT can be especially useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and obsessive patterns.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. Kristi will talk with you about your goals, try techniques that fit your needs, and adjust the plan based on what feels useful. She often combines listening with skill-building so sessions include both conversation and practice exercises you can use between meetings.

Online therapy offers flexibility and easier access to regular care. Video calls let you work face-to-face when schedules or travel make in-person visits hard. Phone sessions or short live chats can suit brief check-ins or lower-bandwidth days. Text-based messaging supports ongoing reflection and quick questions between longer sessions. These options help people keep therapy working around school, work, caregiving, or medical commitments.