- Individualized care
- Practical strategies
- Values focused
About Kristi
Dr. Kristi Hottenstein is a licensed professional counselor with two decades of experience based in Michigan. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Toledo, a master’s in Counseling from the University of La Verne, and a bachelor’s in Sociology from Alma College. Dr. Hottenstein leads Compass Counseling & Coaching, PLLC and has served on the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association board.
Her style is practical and individualized. She treats each person as unique and uses a mix of counseling methods to match needs. Sessions focus on building self-awareness, naming patterns, and making small, workable changes. Common concerns she addresses include stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, codependency, grief, and life transitions.
Dr. Hottenstein blends structured and conversational techniques. She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thoughts. She also uses acceptance-based and client-centered ways to support values and personal meaning. Dialectical strategies may appear when managing intense emotions or distress.
She also offers coaching around college selection and helps people facing career or caregiving stress. Her approach considers practical life demands, like sleep, eating, and daily routines, alongside emotional goals. The goal is clearer choices, steadier responses, and improved daily functioning.
People who work with her can expect collaboration and direct feedback. She encourages taking responsibility for change while also recognizing real-world limits. Before scheduling, confirm current session options and logistics with the practice.
How these approaches shape online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people live by their values while accepting hard feelings. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions where deciding what matters feels difficult.Client-Centered Therapy puts the person’s experience at the center of sessions. The therapist listens carefully, reflects what’s happening, and helps clients make their own choices about change.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical techniques to shift unhelpful patterns. It often helps with anxiety, depression, and daily coping skills.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose and adapt methods based on goals, needs, and preferences. That process may start by trying techniques from different approaches and seeing what fits.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session options with the practice before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, and allow for check-ins that match a client’s schedule. It can also make some sessions less formal, such as brief progress reviews or skills practice, which many people find helpful when juggling responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Michigan, Texas, Arizona, California, New Jersey, Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, codependency, grief, addictions, and a range of life changes.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is practical and client-centered, mixing structured techniques and conversational work to build self-awareness and change habits.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical experience and has run Compass Counseling & Coaching, PLLC while participating in state professional leadership.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds LPC and LPCC credentials and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.