Krista Westerman, Marriage and Family Therapist Intern

My name is Krista Westerman, and I am a Marriage and Family Intern at Path to Renewal Therapy Services. I believe that nothing in our lives or relationships develops in isolation. Every relationship is shaped by a dynamic interplay of experiences, attachment patterns, family-of-origin influences, culture, life transitions, and the ways we learn to connect with one another. Before beginning my clinical training, I have spent the past 12 years as a Child Protective Services Social Worker, where much of my work focused on supporting children, parents, and families through complex challenges, overcoming trauma/addictions, and helping families build healthier relationships. Those experiences reinforced my belief that lasting healing happens within relationships and that understanding the larger systems influencing our lives creates opportunities for meaningful change.

As a Marriage and Family Therapy intern, I am passionate about helping individuals and couples strengthen emotional and physical intimacy within a compassionate, sex-positive, and nonjudgmental environment. I believe sexuality is a natural part of overall well-being, and that concerns related to intimacy are often influenced by attachment, communication, trauma, parenting, religious or cultural experiences, pornography and social media, life transitions, and the broader context of a relationship. My goal is to help clients better understand themselves and one another while creating relationships where vulnerability feels safe, authentic, and emotionally secure.

My training is grounded in relational therapy, drawing from Family Systems Theory, Attachment Theory, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT). I am committed to providing an individualized, collaborative approach that honors each client’s unique experiences, strengths, and goals. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Family, Consumer, and Human Development in 2005, along with my Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential which I maintained active from 2005-2017, and I am currently completing my Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Sex Therapy. Whether you are navigating relationship challenges, parenting, life transitions, healing from childhood trauma, sexual trauma, or seeking deeper intimacy and connection, I would be honored to walk alongside you on your journey toward healing and growth.