Dr. Kristi Hottenstein, LPC, LPCC

Dr. Kristi Hottenstein brings two decades of counseling experience to her practice in Michigan. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration and a master’s degree in Counseling, and has been a licensed professional counselor since 2009. Dr. Hottenstein runs Compass Counseling & Coaching, PLLC and has served on the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association board. She offers counseling for individuals, couples, and teens and also provides college selection coaching.

Her approach is holistic and personalized. She treats each person as an individual and adapts methods to fit their needs. Sessions focus on building self-awareness and encouraging people to take responsibility for choices that affect their lives. Practical tools and conversations are used to help manage stress, relationships, mood, and life transitions.

Dr. Hottenstein uses a mix of methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential Therapy. That variety allows her to match techniques to the issue at hand, whether anxiety, grief, identity, or coping with change. She aims to make sessions straightforward and useful.

Her background in higher education also informs work with teens and young adults around college decisions and transition planning. People often come for help with career decisions, parenting strain, or relationship patterns. Conversations include practical next steps alongside reflection on values and goals.

Sessions are offered in English. Dr. Hottenstein’s clinical lens emphasizes self-knowledge and practical skills to manage everyday problems and longer term concerns.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small committed steps toward them. It helps when life feels off course or when someone struggles with anxiety, depression, or major transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, behaviors, and feelings interact and teaches concrete strategies to change unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, mood problems, and habit change. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a supportive, nonjudgmental relationship where the person’s own goals lead the work; this approach can help people build confidence and self-understanding.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with each person to identify which methods fit their goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can shift as needs change over time.

Confirm current session formats before booking to know what is offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people choose arrangements that match their daily rhythms, such as sessions during a lunch break or evenings. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, and client-centered techniques to work well over distance while focusing on clear goals and practical steps.