Kristen Gaughan , LPC

Kristen Gaughan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Pennsylvania with 23 years of clinical experience in the behavioral health field. She has worked across a variety of treatment settings and with a broad spectrum of clients, bringing deep experience in addressing mental health concerns as well as substance use and process addictions such as gambling, disordered eating, compulsive sexual behaviors, and problematic spending.

Her interest in helping others began early, and she describes counseling as a vocation rather than just a job. Kristen earned a Bachelor of Arts from York College of Pennsylvania with a double major in Psychology and Sociology and double minors in Criminal Justice Corrections and German. She went on to complete a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Her LPC credential identifies her as a Licensed Professional Counselor qualified to provide clinical counseling in Pennsylvania.

Kristen is committed to supporting people as they work toward greater peace, joy, and contentment in their lives. She draws on extensive clinical experience to assist with issues including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting challenges, and coping with life changes. Because of the nature of the Betterhelp.com platform, she is unable to write letters on a client’s behalf.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Kristen Gaughan

Kristen draws on client-centered therapy, emotionally-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing to guide her work. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so clients can explore their values and goals and build self-directed coping skills; it is helpful for depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and life transitions. Emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and reshaping emotional responses within relationships, making it a strong fit for couples work, attachment concerns, and intimacy-related issues. Motivational interviewing helps people resolve ambivalence and strengthen commitment to change, which is particularly useful when addressing addictions, substance use, and other behaviors clients wish to alter.

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

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing people to access licensed professionals from different locations and at times that fit their schedules. These options can make it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy periods, when caregiving responsibilities are heavy, or when mobility or geographic distance would otherwise limit access to in-person services.