My Healing Journey

From the time I was young, I’ve been drawn to the mysteries of growth, healing, and wholeness. As a child, I loved drawing butterflies and frogs—symbols of transformation. My dad would gift me frog-themed items every year, as if he intuitively knew they resonated with my inner journey. While I planned to become both an artist and a counselor in high school, life led me through twists and turns—much like the Hero’s Journey that has captivated me since my college days.

At 23, as an art major, I took a course on folktales in literature. That’s where I first encountered Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. I felt an immediate connection, as though the pattern it described echoed what I already knew in my bones: the longing to heal, to become integrated, and to feel whole. This call to transformation guided my steps as I earned master’s degrees in Human Development and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. But as I began my work as a counselor, I found myself disillusioned with talk therapy. It felt like it offered insights and coping strategies but rarely reached the roots of people’s struggles.

In 2020, my own journey led me to Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy as a client. The experience deeply resonated with me, and I connected with protected and wounded parts of myself that I otherwise might not have accessed. This felt like a therapy model that truly supported the kind of transformation I sought for both personal growth and professional practice—a model I deeply believe in for its capacity to foster genuine healing.

IFS is, at its core, a Hero’s Journey. It invites us to embark on an inner adventure, exploring the landscapes of our internal world. Along the way, we meet the “parts” of ourselves—some protective, some wounded—that have shaped our lives. Through curiosity and compassion, we begin to understand these parts, heal the pain they carry, and discover the Self: the calm, wise, and compassionate center within each of us. This is where true transformation happens.

After 3 years on a waiting list, I completed my Level 1 IFS training in December 2024. I’m thrilled to bring this transformative approach to my clients across Wisconsin, helping them embrace their own Hero’s Journey. Whether you’re seeking healing, clarity, or a deeper connection to your spiritual self, IFS offers a compassionate and profound path toward change.

If you’re ready to take the next step on your journey, I would be honored to walk alongside you.

Warmly, Kris

My Perspective on Counseling and Healing

I believe that counseling helps us heal through connection—both within ourselves and with others—and that we are all deeply interconnected.

While we are interconnected, healing requires intention, awareness, and effort—both individually and collectively. Many factors can block or slow the process, such as unresolved trauma, societal systems that perpetuate harm, or disconnection from ourselves and others.

Healing through connection isn’t automatic—it’s an opportunity. When people consciously engage in meaningful relationships, nurture self-awareness, and create safe spaces for vulnerability and growth, the ripple effect of healing becomes more powerful. In many ways, the work of healing is both deeply personal and part of a larger collective journey. The more we prioritize connection and compassion, the closer we move toward a more healed and whole world.