I'm Christi Kersten, LPC, founder of Ardent Grace Counseling and Teletherapy.
Over more than twenty years in mental health, I've worked with people navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, neurodivergence, major life transitions, and the kinds of struggles that don't always fit neatly into a box. My Alaska telehealth practice serves adults 18 and older.
Earlier in my career, my path into this work began in behavioral sciences, working with at-risk youth, children with serious mental illness, and foster families. After completing my master's degree in professional counseling, I continued serving those populations before entering private practice in Texas in 2011.
Over the years, my work has evolved, but the part that continues to matter most to me remains the same:
"Helping people understand themselves more clearly within the context of their unique story."
People make sense when we see the bigger picture. The beginning of healing often comes when we start to make sense of our story and the meaning we give our life experiences.
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable people who have spent a long time carrying more than others realize.
They're often the people others depend on—the problem-solvers, caregivers, professionals, helpers, and deep thinkers who somehow became responsible for holding everything together.
Eventually, even strong people need somewhere to set things down.
Many clients come to therapy frustrated with themselves because they already know what they're "supposed" to do but still find themselves stuck.
Sometimes the question isn't: "Why can't I just do this?"
Sometimes the more useful question is: "What makes this so hard in the first place?"
Feeling stuck is often less about motivation and more about overwhelm.
Procrastination may have more to do with perfectionism, executive functioning, burnout, grief, fear, or carrying too much for too long than laziness or lack of effort.
Even emotions that feel disruptive or confusing often serve a purpose.
Together, we'll work to understand not only what is happening, but why it may be happening—and what your mind, body, or nervous system may be trying to accomplish.
Because strategies tend to work better once they're aimed at the right problem.
How I work
I draw on a few approaches and fit them to the person in front of me. With cognitive reprocessing, we look again at conclusions you drew from hard experiences, such as "it was my fault," and check whether they still hold up.
CBT gives you practical tools to use between sessions. When thoughts and feelings won't simply go away, ACT helps you make room for them and still move toward what matters to you. And when part of you wants change and part of you doesn't, motivational interviewing helps us work with those mixed feelings instead of arguing with them.
All of it rests on a person-centered relationship built on trust. Clients often tell me they feel understood, and I think that comes from seeing each person in context: your history, personality, relationships, work and home life, and the responsibility and pressure you carry.
"I don't believe therapy is about becoming someone different. I believe it's about understanding yourself more clearly, making sense of your experiences with greater compassion, and finding a way forward that feels authentic, sustainable, and true to your values."
My Work Draws From
I view modalities as tools rather than therapy templates. Different people need different things at different times, and therapy should adapt to the person—not force the person to adapt to the model.
Outside of the therapy room, I am a mother, caregiver, and member of the military community who has experienced firsthand some of the complexity, unpredictability, grief, and growth that life can bring.
My family includes two neurodivergent daughters who have taught me more than I could ever capture in a credential or training certificate.
My own experiences with grief and rebuilding after the loss of a partner to cancer have deepened my appreciation for resilience, meaning-making, and the importance of creating spaces where people feel genuinely understood.
I am intimately familiar with many of the unique experiences military families face, including transition, uncertainty, caregiving, service-related stressors, profound loss, and the challenge of rebuilding after life changes in ways we never expected.
I believe there is always room for hope, purpose, and growth—even when life looks very different than we imagined it would.
Is my approach right for you?
What is therapy with you like?
Sessions are conversational and collaborative, by secure video from wherever you are in Alaska. We move at a pace that feels manageable, and I'll tell you honestly what I notice and what might help.
Do I need to know exactly what I want to work on?
No. Many people start with a general sense that something isn't working. We can sort out the focus together in the first few sessions.
Can my Christian faith be part of therapy?
Yes, if you want it to be. Faith is included only when you ask for it and only as much as you choose. If you'd rather keep therapy secular, that is fully respected.
SERVING ALASKA
Telehealth only, statewide — Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Sitka, Ketchikan, and remote & rural communities, including service members, veterans and military spouses near JBER, Eielson AFB, Fort Wainwright, Fort Greely, Clear Space Force Station, and Coast Guard installations in Kodiak, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Juneau.
I'M HERE TO HELP
Therapy that honors your unique story.
Individualized care for adults 18+ located in Alaska.