Hi, I’m Krista
I have been a licensed professional therapist for over a decade and my heart is working with and supporting mothers in early parenthood.
Although classically trained in cognitive behavioral approaches, I am lucky enough to be trained in other approaches and blend these elements into my clinical work. This allows me to not only provide you practical tools to alleviate some of the discomfort right away, but also provide you with some reflection and understanding about how these patterns began in your life. This personalized understanding empowers you overall in motherhood — and in other relationships in your life.
I’m trained in the following parenting frameworks and have the following early-parenthood-specific credentials:
Circle of Security
Trust-Based Relational Intervention
Gottman Institute’s Bringing Home Baby curriculum
Perinatal Mental Health Certification
Advanced Clinical Training in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health from University of Washington
As a mother, your emotions and identity shifts and changes—and my journey has been no different. These are the many versions of “mom” I have been in this chapter of my life (so far!):
stay at home mom (not great at it)
working mom (better but still figuring it out)
semi-solo mom while my husband worked at a remote mine in Alaska (hard times)
mom that moved across the country with a 3 month old (even harder times)
breastfeeding mom (struggle!)
formula feeding mom (the guilt!)
anxiety-ridden mom (allllll the doomscrolling and webmd)
depressed mom (“This isn’t what I thought it would be like”)
cloth diaper mom (not meant to be)
disposable diaper mom (sorry environment)
cry-it-out mom (spoiler: only success was that it broke my heart)
follow-their-lead mom (their lead changes way too often)
gentle-parenting mom (AKA the phase of my parents commenting frequently “You are raising spoiled kids”)
guessing-my-way-through-this mom (everyday)
lonely mom (even though always seem to have a human near me)
empowered mom (through self-reflection and support)
The meaning of “Amae” in my therapeutic work…
I’m a believer that if you pay attention—-you will receive what you are looking for. In 2020, when I was embarking on establishing my private practice, I was seeking a practice name that meant something deeply to me.
I began the brainstorm by considering the people and things most important to me, and found that combining “A” and “Mae” is a way of honoring my two daughters, while also sounding interesting and serene at the same time. This, in many ways, was meaningful enough to me as a mother.
But, like anything else nowadays, it helps to google something just to make sure nothing interesting showed up on Urban Dictionary regarding the meaning behind the word “Amae.”
Much to my delight, I came to discover that the word amae is a Japanese term to that refers to the feeling of comfort and security that comes from being taken care of by someone else. It is a childlike sense of trust and reliance on others, particularly those in positions of authority or those who are close to us.
Amae is not just a feeling, but also a behavior. It involves seeking out and accepting the care and attention of others, as well as reciprocating that care and attention. It is a mutual exchange of affection and support that helps to build strong relationships. Amae is also a way to build intimacy and trust in personal relationships. By sharing our vulnerabilities and accepting the care of others, we build a sense of closeness and connection that is essential for healthy relationships.
The very essence of my work is creating amae wellness in my client’s lives.
