Kristin Williams (She/Her)

Associate Clinical Social Worker #105050

Supervised by: Jacqueline Plante, Director (CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #91084)

what is your role at Gather and Grow Oc?

As an associate Clinical Social Worker, my role at Gather and Grow OC is to provide affirming counseling services for individuals and relationships rooted in an inclusivity and strengths-based framework. My role is to meet you where you are in your journey and create the space you need to move through the issues that have brought you to seek support. 

school and training history

I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola Marymount University with a minor in theology. I focused on world religions and how they interact with our mental health and wellness practices. I also focused on anxiety as a predictor of athletic success and the many variables that anxiety can present us with in our daily functioning. I am fortunate to have been able to attend graduate school twice. I first earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Saint Joseph’s University. The unique aspect of this part of my educational career is that rather than pursuing a teaching credential, I dove into as many assessment and diagnosis courses as I could. This led me on a journey of working as a behavior specialist for many years, focusing on dual-diagnosis populations as well as people experiencing autism and related differences. Over the years, the clinical side of my professional identity led me to Arizona State University, where I earned a Master of Social Work. Equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as evidence-based practices supporting advocacy and empowerment through sound clinical provision of services, were my primary areas of focus.

INDIVIDUAL FOCUS

You are the expert of your own life. Your story holds power. My role is to create and hold the space you need to journey through your story. I believe we are multifaceted, complex, diverse beings that need a holistic approach to healing. I utilize introspection across the eight dimensions of wellness to see where we can work together to cultivate balance and bring to the surface strengths you may not know you possess. There are many things that can be barriers along our journeys. Looking deeply at how we can add in or acknowledge things within ourselves to create more peace is an anchor of my work. I utilize a variety of evidence-based practices and modalities of care to join you in your story and unpack what you are carrying. 

what excites you about being part of the gather and grow oc community?

I am beyond thrilled to be joining the Gather and Grow OC team. I have often hoped a community like this could exist for individuals and relationships seeking affirming care, and I only wish I had found this practice sooner! The focus on inclusive, affirming, trauma-informed care feels like I have found my people, and I am so grateful to be here! I look forward to connecting with you.

Currently scheduling clients Monday through Friday, in-person and telehealth options available.

POSTS FROM THE GROWER’S GUIDE…

A Letter from Kristin

I am so glad you are here. My name is Kristin (She/Her). I am grateful to be a part of the Gather and Grow OC team. I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) with a passion for connection, mindfulness, and boundaries. I definitely say, “What can we add in?” and “We’re doing it!” on the regular. I will always be game to hear about your favorite music and what you are currently listening to. 

I have been that person who has known deep-to-the-core struggles with grief and loss. This has also looked like wading through loss of identity, sports injuries, and navigating chronic illness in my family system. With this, I have been on the other side of the metaphorical couch when someone doesn’t know how to hold that space for me without their own discomfort taking center stage. That is the space I hope to hold for you!

I believe that our stories hold power, and my job is to cultivate a safe space for you to move through your story. One of the absolutely best parts of my job is being invited in to join you where you are at in your story and champion your journey. Being known and given the freedom to be comfortable with who you are and given the support to look deeply into yourself is why I started this work many years ago.

I have weaved and maneuvered through various helping professional realms to get here. This includes work as a behavior specialist in co-occurring substance use programming and working in several levels of community mental health care, from intensive outpatient, community-based services, crisis stabilization, prevention/outreach, and outpatient care.  Much of my work is framed within cognitive-behavioral and strengths-based perspectives and how we can look to the strengths you hold to be true about your life to ground our work together. 

In each encounter, I seek to bring my authentic self to meet you where you are. Sometimes, this comes out in my quirky sense of humor, movie quotes, or relating a current meme or TikTok trend to a skill we are working on together. I like to think of it as ‘marching to the beat of my own drum,’ and I look forward to having you join in with me—there are always extra drumsticks lying around over here! 

Take good care,

Kristin

You can contact Kristin directly at 714-312-6874 or kristin@gatherandgrowoc.com. View other therapist profiles HERE.