Kristin Anderson, LCSW

Helping people face the hardest parts of being human with compassion, courage, and deep respect for the healing journey.

Whether you're confronting trauma, grief, or mental illness, you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s face the monsters together, and if we’re brave enough, make peace with them.

Why Therapy?
Why Vanilla Pines?

  • Trauma & PTSD

  • Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)

  • Depression

Top Specialties

  • Anxiety & Perfectionism

  • Bipolar Disorder & Psychosis

  • Body Image & Disordered Eating

  • Chronic Pain

  • Relationship issues

  • Domestic Violence

  • First Responders & Veterans

  • Grief

  • Post LDS/Mormon & Spirituality work

  • Suicidal thoughts & Self-Harm

Expertise

Thoughtful insights from your therapist:

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

  • Poet Mary Oliver asks, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I remember a professor in grad school saying, “Now students, you must be careful about therapists. They seem to always nudge a person toward the brave and wild thing.” I liked that. I like that therapy can be a space to bring our stories, fears, hopes, joy, and hurt, and that there is someone set aside to sit with us while we untangle and consider the brave and wild things.

  • I like the loving neutrality and confidential nature of a therapist. I like that I can tell them how I’m feeling and where it still stings, and know they’re well-trained in the art of listening and genuinely wants peace for me. That feels rare. And sacred.

  • I’ve often thought of the therapy room as a bit of a sacred space. Like Moses and the burning bush, where God tells him to take off his shoes because he’s on holy ground. I very much do find myself immersed in a holy space while doing this work. This work is creative, emotional, messy, sacred, sometimes hilarious, and always an honor.

  • Then you're paying attention. It is scary. Vulnerability is a lot. But any therapist worth their weight in beans will first make sure you feel safe and have the tools to explore the darkness. You already have a compass. You’ll be given a flashlight.

Services & Rates
Testimonials

"Kristin helped me through the lowest point in my life. My relationship had just failed miserably, my body image was #&$@, and I had lost sight of the point of it all. Kristin didn't silver line all the crap in my life, she just sat with me in it. I mean, she was just really there with me through it. When I was ready, she gently/aggressively pushed me to start taking steps towards being human again; start dating, start eating right, exercising... all that good human stuff. I can't thank her enough for showing up like she did. I got my life back."

– B.C.

"EMDR with Kristin was a game changer. Being in my body is a safe place for me to be now."

– D.E.

"Therapy helped me clarify what my core values are and how to live a more values driven life. I think everyone would benefit from therapy and Kristin, she's phenomenal."

– A.B.