- Individualized care
- Coach and counselor
- 20 years experience
About Kristi
Dr. Kristi Hottenstein is a licensed professional counselor who has practiced in Michigan since 2009. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration and a master’s degree in counseling, and she leads Compass Counseling & Coaching, PLLC. Her background blends counseling work with coaching for college planning and life transitions.
She follows a holistic style that treats each person as an individual. Sessions focus on increasing self-awareness, naming patterns, and working toward practical changes. She uses a mix of counseling techniques and aims to help people accept responsibility for the parts of life they can influence.
Her 20 years of work have included support for stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, and LGBT concerns. She also addresses eating and sleeping problems, parenting strain, anger, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and communication problems.
Dr. Hottenstein uses approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Existential Therapy. In sessions she helps people notice what matters to them, try new actions, and practice skills that can reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.
People who prefer a collaborative, down-to-earth counselor may find her style helpful. She integrates coaching where useful and supports practical planning alongside emotional work.
She follows a holistic style that treats each person as an individual. Sessions focus on increasing self-awareness, naming patterns, and working toward practical changes. She uses a mix of counseling techniques and aims to help people accept responsibility for the parts of life they can influence.
Her 20 years of work have included support for stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, and LGBT concerns. She also addresses eating and sleeping problems, parenting strain, anger, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and communication problems.
Dr. Hottenstein uses approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Existential Therapy. In sessions she helps people notice what matters to them, try new actions, and practice skills that can reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.
People who prefer a collaborative, down-to-earth counselor may find her style helpful. She integrates coaching where useful and supports practical planning alongside emotional work.
How her approaches guide online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take small actions that match those values. It focuses on noticing thoughts and choosing meaningful steps even when feelings are difficult. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and teaches practical tools to change unhelpful cycles, which can help with anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating problems. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes being heard and understood; the therapist follows the client's lead and helps them find their own solutions.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can change over time as priorities shift and progress is made.
Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy life by reducing travel and allowing appointments during breaks or evenings. Video or phone work can allow shorter check-ins or longer sessions depending on what someone needs. The focus remains on practical tools, clearer goals, and everyday changes that help people manage stress, relationship concerns, and life transitions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Michigan, Texas, Arizona, California, New Jersey, Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and self-esteem concerns, as well as depression, addictions, trauma and grief. Other focuses include intimacy issues, eating and sleeping problems, ADHD, and caregiver stress.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is holistic and collaborative. She emphasizes self-awareness, practical skills, and finding what actions align with each person's values.
How long has she practiced?
She has about 20 years of professional counseling experience in clinical and coaching roles.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds LPC and LPCC credentials and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are used for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Click the continue button on this profile, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.