Kirsten Johnson
LCSW · LCSW-C Co-Founder
Helping individuals and couples heal from the inside out.
A clinician shaped by internal exploration…
Healing begins with understanding, not fixing. I believe that every person is fundamentally whole, even when life experiences, trauma, loss, or stress have led them to feel disconnected from themselves. Healing is not about repairing a flawed self—it is about understanding the parts of you that have worked hard to protect, adapt, and survive.
Drawing from an Internal Family Systems (IFS) perspective, I approach therapy with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of asking, "What's wrong with you?" we explore, "What has happened to you, and how have your parts learned to respond?" Together, we create space for deeper self-understanding, compassion, and connection to the wisdom that already exists within you.
Healing is a process of coming home to yourself.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist, I provide transformational therapy for individuals and couples seeking deeper healing, greater self-understanding, and more fulfilling relationships. My work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens when we approach ourselves with curiosity, compassion, and courage. I specialize in helping clients move beyond insight alone by engaging in experiential therapy that creates lasting shifts in how they relate to themselves and others.
Credentials and Training Experience
Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist
Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO)- IFS for Couples
Training Program Assistant for the IFS Institute
IFIO Community & Training Program Staff Member
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Certified Trauma Professional
SPECIALTY FOCUS
Internal Family Systems
At the center of my work is Internal Family Systems (IFS), a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps people understand and heal their internal world.
IFS recognizes that all of us have different parts of ourselves that carry emotions, beliefs, memories, and protective strategies. Some parts work hard to keep us safe, while others may hold wounds from difficult experiences. Rather than viewing these parts as problems to eliminate, IFS helps us approach them with compassion and curiosity.
Through this process, clients often experience:
Greater self-awareness and self-compassion
Relief from long-standing emotional patterns
Healing from trauma and attachment wounds
Increased confidence and clarity
A stronger sense of inner calm and self-leadership
More authentic relationships with others
My goal is to help clients reconnect with their innate capacity for healing so they can live with greater freedom, connection, and authenticity.
Couples Therapy with IFIO
Relationships often become caught in painful cycles that leave partners feeling misunderstood, disconnected, or alone. While communication skills can be helpful, lasting change often requires understanding the deeper emotional processes driving those interactions. My couple's work is grounded in Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO), a model developed from Internal Family Systems specifically for intimate relationships. IFIO helps couples understand the protective patterns and emotional reactions that arise during conflict and teaches partners how to respond from a place of greater awareness, compassion, and connection.
Through IFIO, couples learn to:
Understand the emotional triggers beneath recurring conflicts
Navigate difficult conversations with greater clarity and compassion
Reduce reactivity and blame
Develop deeper emotional intimacy
Strengthen trust and connection
Heal relational wounds together
Whether you are experiencing ongoing conflict, feeling disconnected from one another, navigating life transitions, or simply wanting to deepen your relationship, IFIO offers a path toward greater understanding and meaningful change.
TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY
A collaborative journey together
Healing occurs within a collaborative, respectful therapeutic relationship. My role is not to direct your journey, but to walk alongside you as a trusted guide. Every aspect of your experience is welcome—your emotions, your relationships, your history, your strengths, and your hopes for the future.
My work is grounded in several core principles:
Whether I am working with an individual exploring their internal world or a couple seeking greater connection, my focus remains the same: helping people access the clarity, compassion, and confidence needed to create lasting change.
WHO I WORK WITH
Individuals and Couples
My practice is often the best fit for individuals and couples who value curiosity, reflection, and personal growth, and who are interested in exploring not only how they feel, but why they feel the way they do. Many of my clients come into sessions finding themselves asking questions such as, "Why do I keep repeating this pattern?", "Why do I react this way?", or "How can I feel more connected to myself and the people I care about?"
For couples, this work involves understanding the protective strategies and emotional experiences that each partner brings into the relationship, fostering deeper connection, empathy, and communication.
I also enjoy working with therapists and other helping professionals who are interested in their own personal growth, navigating the unique challenges of clinical work, or deepening their connection to themselves beyond their professional roles.