Kristina Ellen , LCMHC

Kristina Ellen welcomes people who have chosen Betterhelp and offers steady support during difficult times. She goes by Nicole in everyday settings, while Kristina is her first name and the name on her license. As a holistic counselor, she attends to both body and mind, helping clients find the balance that supports lasting well-being.

She has worked in the counseling field for 19 years and has held her clinical license for the past 9 years. Her professional journey includes Telehealth, inpatient treatment centers, Assertive Community Treatment teams, Community Health, Primary Care medical offices, and private practice. Each of these roles contributed to the breadth of experience she brings to working with the whole person rather than isolated symptoms.

Kristina holds an LCMHC, which stands for Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and she uses a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to each individual. She has been recognized locally for her work, with nominations for NC Counselor of the Year in 2016 and 2017 and a selection among Brunswick County Top 10 Young Professionals in 2016. She creates a relaxed, comfortable setting and does not impose strict time limits on therapy, viewing progress as an individual journey and collaborating with clients to meet their goals.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Care

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and respect for each person's experience. In online sessions this approach helps individuals feel heard and supported while they explore personal goals, identity, relationships, and self-worth. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress; it often includes practical exercises and skill-building that adapt easily to video or phone sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress - tools that are useful for trauma responses, relationship conflicts, and mood regulation and can be practiced through live sessions and between-session messaging.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kristina collaborates with clients to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as progress unfolds so therapy feels relevant and manageable.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect - through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - which can make it easier to fit care into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access licensed professionals from familiar environments.