Kirsten uses a network approach to facilitate the necessary services for each individual in the family. She has found that this collaborative approach is most effective and allows her to assess and develop a tailored plan for individuals and families to find their path to healing. Kirsten has worked in the addiction and behavioral health field for over 20 years and specializes in complex substance use disorders, mental health, codependency, trauma, as well as families, couples, and individuals struggling with addiction & mental health issues. 

Kirsten earned her BA and BS degrees in Sociology and a minor in Rehabilitative Services in Women’s Studies from the University of Florida in 1998. She completed an internship with Boston University in London, England at a mental health residential treatment center for adolescents in 1997. In 2005, she earned her master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Argosy University. In 2008 she became a fully Licensed Professional Counselor. During her undergraduate studies Kirsten completed internship at the Vocational Rehabilitation Department providing services to people with disabilities and she also worked at a local suicide and crisis hotline as a crisis counselor. During Kirsten’s junior/senior year of undergraduate school she completed Boston University’s Social Services Study abroad program in London, England where she worked as an adolescent counselor in a residential mental health treatment facility. After graduation from her undergraduate degree in 1998, Kirsten worked at The Village ISA, in Long Beach, CA., a mental health association agency providing integrated services to people with chronic mental illness. When Kirsten returned from working in California, she began working at Bobby Dodd Institute, LLC in Atlanta as Director of Employment Services managing a team and department providing services to people with mental health, physical disabilities, and barriers to work. Kirsten managed the team that helped the people with barriers to work obtain jobs in the community. Once Kirsten began her master’s degree in professional counseling, she completed her internship at North View Counseling & Recovery, LLC, a private practice in Cumming, GA. Here she provided group, individual, and family counseling services to adolescents and adults and became director of the adult addiction intensive outpatient program where she worked on and off for several years until she began her own private practice. In 2005, Kirsten worked as an assessment counselor in the intake department of Anchor Hospital, an inpatient addiction and psychiatric hospital. At the end of 2005, Kirsten began working with Jewish Family and Career Services for the Project Connect program in downtown Atlanta. Kirsten was the substance abuse specialist at Project Connect homeless services program providing individual and group counseling services to people with chronic mental illness and substance use disorder. In 2009, Kirsten began working at Crossroads Treatment Center, a medication management clinic for people with opiate addiction. At Crossroads, Kirsten gained knowledge and expertise in opiate addiction and learned more about Suboxone medication management treatments which has been vital knowledge for treating addiction today. In 2010, Kirsten began her own private practice in Cumming, GA.

In 2014, Kirsten was asked by one of the founding members to become one of the professional founders and developers of the Parent Recovery Network (PRN), an anonymous and free support group for parents of loved ones struggling with substance abuse issues or addictions of any kind. She provides professional facilitation for the PRN groups on an ongoing basis. In 2020, Kirsten and Parent Recovery Network were awarded the Catherine Caron “Heart of the Family” Award for the Caron Atlanta Annual Community Awards.

In 2014, Kirsten became a certified Progressive Counting trauma therapist. Since opening her private practice 2010, Kirsten has worked with individuals and families suffering from complex substance use disorders and mental health issues. This work led her to become a nationally certified interventionist. She holds two national certifications in interventions: Certified ARISE® Interventionist (CAI) and Certified Intervention Professional (CIP). Her certifications as an interventionist have expanded the depth of what she can do to help families find their loved ones the right help with more in-depth intervention processes and services. Kirsten's skills and experience have been developed from her extensive professional experience as well as her own personal recovery story.

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Kirsten was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and spent her high school years in Delray Beach, Florida. Kirsten has now lived in the Atlanta area since 2004 and currently resides in Cumming, GA. She is happily married to her best friend and partner, Mr. Bob Banks. Kirsten loves to laugh and talk with her close friends and colleagues, exercise, spend time with her family and dog and enjoy down time outside in nature.

Professional Credentials...