Kristi Tornga, LCSW
Meet Kristi
Hello! I’m Kristi Tornga (they/she), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oregon. I offer individual therapy for adults ages 18 and older through telehealth and in-person sessions.
I believe we all deserve a nonjudgmental space to work through life’s challenges and changes. I support people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic medical concerns, identity exploration, and relationship difficulties. As a genderqueer person, I’m especially invested in supporting transgender and nonbinary people and acknowledging the effects of oppression and erasure on mental health.
My background as a professional dancer also informs my interest in the connection between the body, emotions, and lived experience.
You Might Be a Good Fit If...
You’re looking for a therapist who welcomes your authentic self and considers the broader context of your life. You may be:
Exploring your gender identity or seeking affirming support as a transgender or nonbinary person.
Navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, or changes in your mood.
Living with a chronic medical condition and wanting support with its emotional impact.
Working through trauma or painful relationship experiences.
Experiencing family conflict, communication difficulties, or a life transition.
Wanting to better understand your emotions and respond to yourself with more compassion.
Interested in exploring how your body and emotions are connected.
How I Work
Finding a therapist you connect with matters. I strive to create a space where you can bring all parts of yourself, including experiences or feelings that may be difficult to share. We can also talk openly about how similarities and differences in our identities and lived experiences affect our work together.
Together, we may explore past experiences that influence your daily life, notice patterns that no longer serve you, and develop more compassionate ways of relating to yourself. Depending on your goals, we might focus on strengthening relationships, practicing communication, increasing self-awareness, or building skills for understanding and managing emotions.
I also pay attention to what happens within our therapeutic relationship. Exploring those experiences together can help us understand patterns in other relationships and practice new ways of connecting.
My Approach
My approach is relational, person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. I consider how your relationships, physical health, identity, social environment, and experiences shape your well-being.
I see you as a whole person, with strengths and experiences that extend beyond any diagnosis. My work also draws on somatic concepts, including mindfulness, breathwork, and noticing physical cues that can help you recognize and respond to emotions.
My clinical approach includes:
Relational Therapy · Person-Centered Therapy · Strengths-Based Therapy · Trauma-Informed Care · Psychodynamic Perspectives · Somatic Approaches · Mindfulness
Education & Credentials
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Oregon
Master of Social Work, Field of Practice Specialization in Health
Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York
Additional Training in Gender-Affirming Care
Gender Health Training Institute
Therapeutic care and biopsychosocial assessments for transgender and gender-expansive people, aligned with WPATH standards of care
Additional Training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
My graduate thesis explored disability rights and disability justice in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. My education and clinical training emphasized working with people experiencing oppression through psychodynamic, relational, and intersectional perspectives.
Interested in Working With Kristi?
Submit a prospective patient inquiry and let us know that you’re interested in working with Kristi. We’ll review your needs, preferences, insurance, scheduling availability, and current provider openings to determine whether Kristi may be a good fit.