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My name is Kristy Banathy and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in the Sacramento area of California. Over the past 20 years, I have been privileged to have been invited into the lives of children, families, and adult individuals struggling with learning difficulties, eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression, crisis, and a multitude of other difficulties. I do and will always handle these invitations with the honor they are due.
My approach
I don’t believe that there is a “one-stop shop” for clients. Because of this, I am eclectic in my approach and work with clients to ensure that I am serving them in ways that feel congruent to them and so that I can ensure that their needs are met. I draw most heavily from the approaches of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, but have training in other modalities as well.
My focus
I am open to working with any client who has dedicated themselves to changing some part of their life for the better and is looking for a therapist to help them along that path. I have worked most often with adults struggling with anxiety, depression/mood difficulties, difficulties with life transitions, parenting difficulties, and stress. And please note that I prefer to work with individuals.
My communication style
My communication style is based on curiosity, compassion, and humor (as much as is possible and respectful). I, also by nature, am a very transparent person, and this is reflected in the style of my interventions. I believe that openness and honesty build trust and strength in relationships and are the most respectful tracks between two people. The life path of each client is uniquely and perfectly theirs, I see myself as but a guide who walks behind, beside, and in front of the client at different points in the journey.
My journey to mental healthcare
When I was 10 years old, someone told me that if I would stop talking and listen, that people would always talk. That information turned out to be true and it changed my life. I have been listening to people’s stories since then.
My goals for you
Goal setting should be a collaborative process in which the client and I meet to discuss what has been troubling them. This way, I can get a complete understanding of what is challenging for the client and the client can get a clear picture of the ways in which I could offer support. Then we can both get to work.
My first session with you
The initial sessions are an important one for us to establish our relationship and begin to build rapport with each other. The session with me will include a lot of questions. I will be asking you a number of questions in reference to a psychosocial assessment I will be completing. I will also just be getting to know you, and you, me. You are also able to ask questions of me (I have some legal and ethical boundaries, but I’ll let you know if we come up to one).
