Dr. Kristi Hottenstein

Dr. Kristi Hottenstein is a licensed professional counselor with two decades of clinical experience in Michigan. She holds a doctorate in higher education administration and a master’s in counseling, and she runs a private practice called Compass Counseling & Coaching. Dr. Hottenstein draws on a variety of methods to meet each person's needs and encourages practical steps people can use between sessions.

Her approach is holistic and person-centered. She tailors sessions to each individual's life and values rather than using a single method for everyone. Mindfulness practices are part of her work, alongside approaches that focus on thoughts, behavior, and emotional skills.

People come to her for many concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addiction, sleep and eating problems, parenting strain, and career transitions. She also supports those facing trauma, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and complex medical or caregiving challenges. Dr. Hottenstein offers guidance around adoption, attachment, and body image concerns as well.

Sessions typically focus on building awareness, identifying workable goals, and practicing new ways to respond to difficult moments. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, and client-centered conversation to help people notice patterns and try different responses. Skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy are available when emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness are priorities.

Her background in higher education and clinical counseling informs an approach that blends practical coaching with therapeutic depth. New clients start by completing a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

How her approaches translate to online work

Mindfulness Therapy helps people notice thoughts and sensations without getting swept away by them. It often uses short attention practices and breath-based exercises that can be practiced between sessions to reduce reactivity and improve focus. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and taking small, committed steps toward them while learning to sit with difficult thoughts and feelings. It can help with anxiety, depression, and life transitions by making goals clearer and more actionable.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and empathy as a way to help people make sense of their own experience. The therapist offers reflection and gentle guidance while the person leads the pace and focus of the work. Choosing which approach to emphasize is a collaborative process; the therapist will work with each person to identify goals, try different techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most.

If you prefer online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking since the exact options should be checked with the provider. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, allow for shorter check-ins when time is limited, and remove travel time so sessions are more manageable. Licensed professionals can adapt mindfulness exercises, ACT commitments, and client-centered conversation to an online setting while helping people apply skills in real life.