Kristi Rakes, LCSW, LISW-CP

Kristi Rakes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people talk through stress, grief, anxiety, depression, and life changes. She meets people where they are and focuses on practical steps toward feeling steadier. Kristi works from a place of empathy and respect and aims to help clients notice their strengths during hard times.

Kristi uses straightforward talk therapy and tools people can try between sessions. She draws on Client-Centered Therapy to follow what matters most to each person. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and Mindfulness to build moments of calm. Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy also shape her approach when useful.

With 13 years of experience, Kristi has worked with a wide range of concerns. Her listed specialties include mood struggles, addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting concerns, trauma and stress, and a focus on aging and geriatric issues and caregiver stress. She supports people coping with hospice and end-of-life matters and with feelings of isolation or purposelessness.

Kristi holds LCSW and LISW-CP credentials and practices in North Carolina. Sessions are held in English and international clients are not accepted. Costs vary with location and an available subscription model is used for sessions and can be canceled at any time.

People who choose Kristi can expect a calm, pragmatic style. She helps clients set clear, achievable goals and uses short exercises or homework to build progress between visits.

Approaches that guide online sessions

Kristi commonly blends Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following what matters most to the person, which helps people feel heard and clear about their next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and gives concrete strategies to reduce anxiety, depression, and unhelpful patterns.

She also uses Mindfulness Therapy to teach simple awareness and grounding practices that reduce reactivity and build calm. These approaches are useful for stress, mood disorders, grief, caregiver strain, and for navigating life transitions often faced during aging and geriatric concerns.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, try techniques in session, and adjust the plan based on what works. That collaborative process helps match methods to the client’s needs and preferences.

The profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. It also lets people practice strategies in real-life settings between visits.