KIRSTIN FRANKLIN, LMFT, CSIT

The protective shields you put up to feel safe end up pushing you farther from those you long to be close to. I’ll help you put down those shields.

Kirstin’s Approach

We are all wired for connection and will do whatever it takes to maintain closeness with those we love. And yet we also put up protective shields based on past hurts that disconnect us from ourselves and others. This can be very confusing. I’ll help you understand the underlying drivers for these mixed behaviors to see where you’re getting stuck. We’ll explore what’s getting in the way and how to find a more balanced perspective that actually allows for true connection. Once you feel more understood, I’ll challenge you to stretch and grow in ways that are achievable and I’ll provide the safety and support to take these risks. I’ll give you tangible tools and guidance to teach you how to connect with yourself, communicate with others in a way that you can be heard, and cope with the stresses of life in ways that actually help so you can get your needs met.

If you:

  • Feel like your partner just doesn’t get you and you don’t know how to make them understand what you feel or need

  • Feel stuck in the same frustrating cycles over and over again 

  • Just want someone to understand you and to not feel alone or crazy in your experience

  • Feel jumbled up inside and don’t even know what you’re feeling or what you need to feel better

  • Know you want something more for yourself and your relationship but don’t know what the first steps to take are

I’ll help you:

  • Open up and put words to things that you can’t express

  • Feel heard and cared for by your partner

  • Understand the what’s underneath the problems in your life and the cycles that you can’t seem to get out of

  • Find healing for the wounds that keep resurfacing in relationships

  • Get in touch with your emotions and needs in a way that doesn’t feel like they are taking you over or that they’re inaccessible to you

  • Find more internal clarity and feel less “tangled up”

  • Develop skills to care for yourself and those you love

More About Kirstin

Therapy has been a part of my life since a time of instability and change when I was 10 years old. Therapy was a safe haven for me to make sense of my inner world, learn healthy ways to cope, and understand the impact of my experiences on how I show up with others and how I perceive them showing up with me. I’ve felt first-hand how influential it can be to have someone who gets you, understands relationship dynamics, helps you understand and organize your thoughts, feelings, and needs, and guides you to grow. It’s my hope to offer you the same things. 

 

Favorite Resources From My Own Journey

  • EFT, Gottman, and IFS therapy models

  • Inner child work and self-compassion work

  • Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb (the final push that inspired me to become a therapist!)

  • On Attachment podcast, @thesecurerelationship Instagram page, Gottman Card Decks app, and Foreplay Radio podcast

Fun Facts

  • I offer a unique blend of fun loving and grandma vibes (think laughter, knitting and chocolate chip cookies)

  • I sing a cappella + love curating personalized playlists

  • I am on a quest to find a cannoli that doesn’t pale in comparison to the ones in Italy

  • My colleagues and clients describe me as genuine, empathetic, and fun

Kirstin’s Groups

Women’s Betrayal Trauma Level 2

Mondays | 5:30pm-7:00pm
8 Group Sessions
$75/Session (90 minutes each)

A preliminary screening interview is required before the group begins.

Credentials + Training

Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy, East Carolina University

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Certified Sex Informed Therapist (CSIT)

Safe Zone trained

Blogs by Kirstin

The Best Options for Couples Therapy: Gottman & EFT

This is not just our opinion - the effectiveness of both methods has been demonstrated through extensive research.

Patterns of Sex: Understanding More with EFT

The theory of Emotionally Focused Therapy can help us make sense of the cycles we get stuck in when it comes to sex with our partner.

Intent vs Impact: Which Matters Most in Repair?

Did the impact of your words or actions not match your intention? This happens often. Luckily, there are tools to use with your partner to repair.