Kristen Johnson, LCSW

Life has stresses. How we cope, how we manage and how we use them to strive for the next best thing matters. Maybe you are anxious or feeling down. Maybe you and your partner are arguing more or feeling disconnected or maybe you’re beginning to feel the effects of being sandwiched between caregiving for your aging parents and taking care of your own family. It’s all hard. Finding new strategies to manage and getting new knowledge can be transformative. Together we will make a plan that helps you take meaningful action towards a more fulfilling life. I use an individualized approach that includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) as well as a mind-body connection. My counseling experience includes assisting adults, couples and older adults with life transitions, grief, anxiety, communication, depression, infertility, stress management, relationship difficulties, and specialized issues related to aging. I have extensive experience working with older adults experiencing cognitive losses and coordinating care plans with families who care for them. My clients say I have a unique approach to therapy while providing a safe and nonjudgmental space for them to share, learn new skills to feel better about themselves, relate better with their partner while improving their day to day lives. Together, we'll work towards your therapy goals. I offer a free phone consultation to explore how we may work together. During my 18 years of experience, I have worked in a variety of therapy settings, including private practice, hospice care, public mental health agencies, and treatment centers. I offer peer consultations and clinical supervision to pre-licensed clinicians in Virginia. I am a licensed clinical social worker in Missouri, Maryland, New York, Virginia and Washington, DC INSURANCE QUESTIONS I welcome people who want to use health insurances for therapy sessions---because I know this makes mental health care more accessible and affordable. The use of healthcare coverage makes it easier for some to try therapy for the first time. I am in-network provider for Care First, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, Cigna, Evernorth and Anthem PPO. I am also a certified out-of-network provider for Tricare (A referral is needed from your VA primary care doctor). If you have any of these insurances, I will bill them directly for your counseling session. You will pay the copay (or deductible if you have any) on the day of your appointment. Please be aware that it's your responsibility to find out what your insurance covers. I'm happy to help navigate, and I find it’s helpful to ask these questions: • What’s my yearly deductible for in-network mental health benefits? • Is there a limit on sessions your plan will cover per year? o If Yes, how many? • How much is my co-payment for mental health services? • Does your plan require pre-authorization for psychotherapy? • Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits? If you wish to see me as out-of-network provider, I will provide you an itemized superbill so that you can submit it to your insurance company directly. Your insurance company's member services can explain your out-of-network benefits and how much of a session cost will be covered.