Every path begins with a first step
My name is Khristofer Johnsen (he/him) I’m a counselor-in-training, writer, and lifelong learner. My roots in rural Appalachia have led me through valleys of experience that called me toward the stories we carry—the ones that go untold, the ones spoken only in whispers, the ones marked by pain, and the ones that rise boldly from the peaks. It is an honor and privilege to walk alongside your story as it continues to be written.
Called to the work
I am currently a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student at Seminary of the Southwest, preparing for licensure as a professional counselor. I was drawn to this field through my belief in the healing power of relationships and the ways authentic connection can create space for growth and change. My own experiences as a counseling client deepened the felt courage it takes to be seen, to be vulnerable, and to begin exploring your own story.
My philosophy
This is how I understand people, healing, and the nature of counseling.
The Trusted Hollow
I see every person as inherently capable of growth, healing, and navigating the world they live in. Counseling is rooted in the safe, trusting, and authentic relationship we co-create together. I believe transformation often unfolds when these conditions are present—when we’re honest with each other, safely connected, and sometimes gently challenged.
Walking the Whole Path
We experience life through our bodies, relationships, cultures, communities, and the meanings we make of our experiences. I believe healing is not only found in understanding our thoughts, but also in reconnecting with the wisdom held within ourselves and our stories.
My approach continues to grow through an integrated lens that draws from person-centered counseling, mindfulness, somatic approaches, Internal Family Systems (IFS), narrative therapy, and other holistic perspectives to support deeper connection with ourselves, our relationships, and the stories we carry.
Carrying the Lantern Through the Thicket
Many people come carrying stories shaped by grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, questions of identity, experiences of shame, changes in relationships, or the search for meaning and belonging. Some are exploring their relationship with spirituality, faith, or systems that have shaped them. Others are learning how to reconnect with themselves after seasons of surviving. Wherever you find yourself on your path, I hope to offer a space where your experiences can be held with curiosity, compassion, and care.
Rooted Like the Wise Old Trees in Good Soil
This work is grounded in and informed by trauma-informed, multicultural, and liberation-oriented approaches that honor the complexity of human experience. I value practices such as harm reduction, recovery-oriented care, gender-affirming care, anti-racist practice, and social justice because I believe healing happens not just within ourselves, it also happens with the context of our relationships, communities, cultures, and lived experiences.
Where Stories Bloom Like Wildflowers
I believe that every person’s story deserves to be heard, felt, and seen. It is my deepest privilege to bear witness to this process and to share in the meaningful space where growth, healing, and discovery unfold.
A shared Journey
Whether we’re walking this path together or you’re considering what I bring to this work, my hope is that our relationship creates a space where you can breathe a little deeper, feel more fully seen, and explore the stories that have shaped you. Together, we can make room for healing, meaning-making, and a deeper connection with yourself and the life you are creating.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” — Carl Rogers
Khristofer Johnsen 