Kristin Miyoko Papa, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Your childhood was rough, so you've learned how to do it all since you couldn't always count on your family. You wanted a different life for yourself, so you've always been an overachiever to prove to yourself and everyone else that you're different. Since you've got your life together, you're usually the go-to person for your family, friends, or coworkers. And you're "fine" compared to everyone else, so prioritizing your own mental health almost feels selfish. You feel like you have a million balls in the air, but if you stop for a moment, you're worried they'll all come tumbling down. You want help from your partner, but you usually don't ask for it since you're often left disappointed and more frustrated. So you're silently struggling, looking cool and collected on the outside, but you're really suffering on the inside, and the resentment continues to build. You know you need some help to finally process things from the past and allow yourself to clarify what really matters to you, because you've come to a tipping point in your life and relationships. You've always been good at doing, but just being and feeling is harder for you. Maybe you've tried therapy in the past, but you never felt completely comfortable and couldn't truly open up. You want this time to be different. You're ready to get started You're recognizing that you want to make changes, since it feels like time is slipping by. You're ready to clarify what's really going on, and what matters most to you. You're looking to make sustainable changes so you can find relief, feel more grounded, and live more intentionally. My clients are often high-achievers with people-pleasing tendencies who are always optimizing and maximizing, but struggle with asking for their own needs and feeling their emotions. But you’re finally ready to take the step to reconnect with your own needs, set healthier boundaries, and clarify your values to slow down and make sustainable changes. Together, we’ll examine long-standing patterns in your thoughts, behaviors, and relationships to develop a committed action plan so you can start to feel more empowered and confident. I'll be walking alongside you in your journey as you start to deepen self-awareness and align your actions with your values. My therapeutic style I use a holistic approach and evaluate all areas of your life so you can live a more values-rich life. Therapy with me is non-stuffy, non-judgmental, and down-to-earth, so you can show up as your true self. In session, I'll be compassionately direct with a hint of humor so you can start to make sustainable changes. Therapy is a collaborative process, so I'm not a smile-and-nod therapist, but I'll be real with you so we can build therapeutic rapport based on authenticity and openness. Together, we'll work so you can move towards your goals of progress, growth, and inner peace.​

I am licensed in California and Puerto Rico, and I support clients in these states via telehealth. I provide exclusively online counseling.