Dr. Kristi Hottenstein
Compassionate counselor guiding practical change
LPC, LPCC Michigan
- Experience
- 20 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Kristi
Dr. Kristi Hottenstein is a licensed professional counselor with two decades of clinical experience and a practice rooted in individualized care.
Background and approach
Holding a doctorate in higher education administration, a master’s in counseling, and a background in sociology, she blends academic insight with practical counseling skills to help people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, grief, addiction, and other life transitions. She has been licensed in Michigan since 2009 and practices with attention to each client’s unique context.
Her style emphasizes collaboration and self-awareness, drawing on a range of therapeutic methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), client-centered approaches, and existential perspectives. Dr.
Hottenstein aims to tailor interventions to the individual rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, supporting goals such as improved coping, clearer communication, and healthier patterns of thought and behavior. She also integrates coaching for college selection and career-related decisions when relevant.
Clients can expect a thoughtful, holistic approach that encourages responsibility and personal insight while addressing practical concerns like sleep, eating, intimacy, parenting, and work-related stress. Her Michigan-based practice offers multiple remote formats to make consistent care more accessible for those seeking ongoing support.
Approaches that guide online counseling and change
Dr. Hottenstein frequently integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into online work. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and developing practical strategies to shift behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating concerns. ACT emphasizes values-based action and mindful acceptance of difficult internal experiences to support coping with grief, chronic stress, and life transitions.She approaches treatment collaboratively, helping clients explore which methods feel most useful for their situation. Together they review goals, personal preferences, and everyday challenges to determine whether CBT, ACT, a client-centered stance, or a blend of techniques will best support progress in therapy.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility for different schedules and needs. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy periods, manage ongoing issues like parenting or work stress, and access therapeutic tools from home. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and communication styles to fit the selected remote format and the client’s goals.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Licensed
Michigan, Texas, Arizona, California, New Jersey, Virginia
Languages
English