Kristi Rakes

Kristi Rakes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, and life transitions. She keeps sessions grounded, practical, and respectful so clients can talk through difficult feelings and next steps. Kristi works from a strengths-based perspective to help people notice what they already do well and use that as a starting point for change.

Kristi has 13 years of experience in mental health and practices in North Carolina. She uses straightforward tools from cognitive behavioral therapy to address unhelpful thought patterns and to build coping skills. She also draws on client-centered work to follow each person’s pace and priorities in sessions.

Mindfulness techniques are part of her approach for calming the nervous system and building focus. Motivational interviewing helps when people want to make changes but feel stuck. Narrative ideas are used to help people reframe personal stories and see different paths forward.

Her background includes work with end-of-life issues, caregiver stress, mood disorders, postpartum depression, trauma and abuse, and a range of relationship and identity concerns including LGBT issues. Kristi aims to help people find practical next steps, whether that means slowing down, setting boundaries, or trying a new plan.

People who choose Kristi can expect clear talk about goals and small, doable practices between sessions. She invites questions and keeps the pace collaborative, adjusting what she does to fit each person’s needs.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Kristi commonly combines client-centered work with cognitive behavioral therapy. Client-centered work means the therapist follows the client’s pace and priorities and focuses on listening, empathy, and understanding. Cognitive behavioral therapy involves noticing thought patterns and trying specific exercises to change unhelpful thinking and behavior.

She also draws on mindfulness techniques to teach simple attention and breathing practices that reduce stress and ground difficult moments. These techniques are useful for anxiety, mood shifts, and building focus during busy days.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kristi will talk with each person about goals and preferences and will try methods that fit those aims. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made over time based on what helps most.

Confirm the session formats before booking since formats are not specified here. Many people find online sessions helpful for fitting therapy into a busy life, keeping appointments during workday breaks, or keeping check-ins brief when needed. Discussing options beforehand makes it easier to choose sessions that match your routine and needs.