Dr. Kristi Hottenstein, LPC, LPCC

Dr. Kristi Hottenstein is a licensed professional counselor who has practiced in Michigan since 2009. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration and a master’s degree in counseling, and she combines that academic background with two decades of clinical experience. Her approach centers on meeting each person where they are and helping them navigate stress, change, and relationship concerns.

She views counseling as a collaborative process. Sessions focus on building self-awareness and helping clients take responsibility for the choices that matter to them. She draws on a range of techniques so each plan fits the individual rather than fitting the person to a single method.

Dr. Hottenstein uses tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavior approaches, and client-centered work to address anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction-related concerns. She also incorporates ideas from dialectical behavior therapy and existential therapy when they match a person’s needs. That variety helps her tailor strategies for things like coping with life changes, grief, or career stress.

She works with relationship and intimacy issues, self-esteem, LGBT concerns, parenting stress, and challenges such as ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and chronic illness. Her practice also includes coaching around college selection and life transitions, reflecting her background in higher education.

People who prefer practical conversation and a personalized plan tend to do well with her style. She combines listening with clear next steps, aiming to make progress you can notice between sessions.

How her approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values despite painful thoughts or feelings. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors, which often helps with anxiety, sleeping and eating concerns, and managing mood. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist listens and follows the client’s lead to build insight and confidence.

Choosing an approach is a team effort. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and then try methods that fit each person. If something doesn’t work, she adjusts the plan and tries another technique rather than sticking to one path.

Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and remove travel time so people can use a break between obligations. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, and client-centered exercises to a remote format so clients can practice skills and track progress between meetings.