Kristina Dowler

Hi, I’m Kristina.

Hi, I’m Kristina—a Resident in Counseling with a passion for helping people navigate life’s challenges with creativity, compassion, and purpose. My approach is trauma-informed and person-centered, and I draw from evidence-based practices to support you in building resilience and finding meaningful growth. Whether you’re facing stress, anxiety, trauma, or life transitions, I’m here to create a safe space where you feel seen, supported, and empowered.

My background & approach

I am currently completing my Residency in Counseling in Virginia, under the supervision of Danielle Johnson, and I recently graduated from William & Mary with my Master’s in counseling with a specialization in military and Veteran experiences. I focus on anxiety, depression, addiction/recovery, stress, and trauma, as well as working with members of our military/first responders. 

Being a therapist has been a dream of mine since I was in high school. I have always been drawn to people - wanting to understand and support them. When I began college, I studied music therapy, my own artistic background, wanting to find a space in the counseling room. As time went on, I decided to focus on traditional “talk” therapy. Between undergraduate and graduate school, I spent years working as a research assistant in the military healthcare system, and later became a mother and ran my own business. My recent experience has been working with the addiction and recovery community locally. These varied experiences have allowed me to meet, connect with, and work with so many incredible individuals over the years and have given me unique insights into the many journeys that we are all on as people within our own varied identities. 

My approach to counseling is based on the idea of empowerment. We should all feel comfortable and confident making the decisions in life that bring us the most peace and joy. With a trauma-informed and person-centered approach, I utilize techniques from evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you feel safe to explore the changes you desire in your life. I want to work with you to help you feel that you’re living a life that is meaningful to you and help you develop skills to handle the struggles life throws in our path. 

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my son and my husband, as well as our dog and cat. I still lean into my artistic tendencies by performing as a cellist in local theatre productions, painting, gardening, and learning new crafty hobbies. I’m also an avid reader!