Kristl Bray , LCSW

Kristl Bray is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 30 years of professional experience helping people navigate major life transitions and personal growth. Based in Montana, she focuses on building an affirming, compassionate therapeutic space for individuals facing challenges such as stress, anxiety, relationship and family struggles, identity exploration, parenting concerns, addiction, grief, and career or life-stage changes. Her work often centers on clients from LGBTQ+ communities, young adults, and those coping with social or workplace anxiety and communication difficulties.

Her approach is person-centered and holistic, drawing on evidence-based methods like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to promote self-understanding, resilience, and more satisfying connections. She brings particular attention to issues around attachment, adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, intimacy and sexual diversity, codependency, and blended-family dynamics.

Kristl emphasizes collaboration and respect, supporting clients as they explore identity, manage mood disorders, rebuild relationships, or adapt to life changes. With decades of practice, she aims to help people develop practical coping strategies, deepen emotional insight, and move toward goals that reflect their values and priorities.

Evidence-based approaches for online care

Kristl integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients clarify personal values and take practical steps toward a meaningful life even when difficult thoughts and feelings are present. ACT is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions by emphasizing committed action aligned with what matters most to the individual.

She also draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to explore patterns in close relationships and how early bonds influence current emotional responses and relational dynamics. This approach can help with intimacy issues, family and parenting challenges, and rebuilding trust after loss or separation.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kristl works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and adapts strategies over time as those needs evolve.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules, travel constraints, or different communication preferences. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access therapy from varied locations while working with licensed professionals and therapists who use evidence-based techniques.