Kristina Durene

Biography

Qualifications & Experience

I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Evangel University and my Master of Arts in Counseling from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (now part of Evangel University).

My Call to Christian Counseling

I have worked in the mental health and counseling field for approximately 11 years, with a variety of exposure and work experience. It has been my heart’s desire to be able to provide counseling from a Christian perspective. As a believer and lover of Christ, my greatest joy is to witness my clients come into an understanding of how greatly they are loved by the Father and to see how drastically this impacts one’s healing and pursuit of wholeness.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

My greatest joy in life is being a boy mom to my two sons. Without a doubt, life with them is never dull! Growing up, my father served as a Chaplain in the Army for nearly 30 years. Watching him and my mother do ministry and pastoral counseling together played a large role in my pursuit of being a counselor. I am forever grateful for their godly example. For fun (and for sanity), I love to be active. I enjoy traveling, running, hiking with my boys and dog, and lifting weights.

Services and Specialities

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

•  ADHD
•  Anxiety
•  Coaching
• Counseling for Children
•  Counseling for Teens
•  Depression
•  Family Counseling
•  Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
•  Infidelity and Affairs
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• PTSD
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

Anxiety

One of my favorite verses is 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV), “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” I have found that fear is often the driver of many of the challenges we face. If you find that you struggle with worry, panic, or feeling anxious and on edge, it is my desire to partner with you in learning skills to both cope with and reduce the impact of those symptoms. You were created to walk in power, full of love, and with sound and clear thinking.

Depression

Depression can be a debilitating mental health issue. While it looks different for everyone, it does come with some common symptoms, such as: low energy and motivation, difficulty completing activities of daily living, isolation, not doing the things we once enjoyed doing, not sleeping enough or sleeping too much, having hopeless thoughts that may or may not lead to thoughts of self-harm or even suicide. These can be overwhelming symptoms, but it would be my honor to come alongside you in your pursuit of hope and healing. Together we will work on learning and implementing effective coping strategies to decrease the severity of these symptoms. It is my firm belief that we are made for community, and that one of the first steps in overcoming depression is finding people to do life with.

Family counseling

With several years of providing counseling to families of all backgrounds, I have been afforded the opportunity to walk with parents and children as they work to improve communication, deepen connection, and implement useful and effective strategies to build up the family unit. I believe it is in the heart of God to restore health to families in struggle and turmoil. If your goal is to strengthen your family bond, parent effectively and lovingly, and identify interventions that work in your home, then it would be my honor to partner with you in that endeavor.

Individual Counseling

People come to counseling for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they struggle with identifying their purpose and calling; maybe they are wracked with anxiety about the future; or maybe they have past trauma yet to heal from. Whatever the reason may be, there is hope. My aim is to support you in identifying and achieving the goals you have to pursue recovery and healing so that you may walk confidently in the calling placed on your life.

Online Counseling

One medium I have come to both love and enjoy is providing counseling to individuals online. Whatever your reason may be for pursuing support through online counseling, rest assured it is an effective way to connect with a counselor as you journey together toward growth and change. I look forward to connecting with you!

Payment and Forms

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Puyallup – Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Online (WA only)

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples, and Families looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 3.7% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.