Kristi Tornga, LCSW

Hello! My name is Kristi Tornga (they/she), and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Oregon. I see individuals (ages 18+) for both in-person and virtual sessions. I believe in reducing shame and stigma around seeking mental health support. We can all benefit from having a non-judgmental space to work through challenges and changes in our lives. As a genderqueer individual I am deeply invested in supporting transgender and non-binary folks and in working to reduce the oppression, erasure, and challenges that this community faces. As a former professional dancer, my therapeutic work is often informed by concepts of somatics and embodiment.

Are you a good clinical fit?

Finding a therapist that you connect with is an important aspect of engaging in therapy. I strive to create an atmosphere where you can show up as your authentic self and feel safe in exploring all parts of yourself. I acknowledge there will likely be similarities and differences within our lived experiences, and we can absolutely talk about how that impacts our therapeutic relationship. Together we will identify patterns of thinking that no longer serve you and find ways of creating more self-compassion. I will hold space for challenging emotions that you may encounter, and we can work together to process past experiences that are impacting your day-to-day life. Throughout our sessions we can focus on building stronger relationships, enhancing communication skills, increasing self-awareness, and improving emotional regulation.

My Approach

As a social worker associate I offer a holistic approach to understanding what may be contributing to your mental health symptoms. Your unique experience in the world consists of numerous factors including your family of origin, your physical health, your identity, how you may have been taught to deal with emotions in the past, your social connections, and so much more! My approach is rooted in Strengths-Based and Trauma-Informed practices. My overall approach is Relational, which means that we will use the therapeutic relationship itself as a means of identifying and creating change in other areas and relationships in your life. This can be particularly meaningful in working to heal from trauma that involved relational harm. I bring a person-centered approach to therapy, and I conceptualize clients as so much more than a label or a diagnosis. As a former professional dancer, I hold a firm belief in the mind/body connection and I often incorporate somatic concepts into therapy sessions, including mindfulness and breathwork, and emotional identification and regulation through physiologic cues.

I look forward to working with you!