Therapy That Understands The Emotional Weight of illness and Life
Compassionate virtual therapy for people navigating chronic illness, medical trauma, caregiving, grief, anxiety, depression, burnout, and life changing transitions throughout Texas.
Where Medical Understanding Meets Emotional Care
Whether you are living with LVAD, navigating transplant, or facing chronic illness, medical trauma, caregiving stress, burnout, heartbreak, or loss, the world may still expect you to keep going.
You survived the medical crisis. The emotional impact may still be unfolding. You deserve a place to process the fear, grief, exhaustion, and identity changes without having to explain the medical world first.
There is no simple way to grieve the life or body you expected. Therapy can give you room to understand what changed, reconnect with yourself, and move forward without minimizing what happened.
Clinical Understanding. Specialized Experience. Human Connection.
I’m Kristin Malaer, LCSW-S, CCTSW-MCS, a licensed therapist, experienced medical social worker, and fellow chronic illness warrior. I bring professional expertise and lived experience to the work I do.
My background includes more than a decade in hospital-based and medically complex care, including extensive experience within the Texas Medical Center supporting heart and lung transplant patients, individuals using LVADs and other forms of mechanical circulatory support, and the families walking alongside them. My work has included crisis intervention, psychosocial assessments, transplant education, chronic illness support, and grief and end-of-life counseling.
As a single mom living with my own long-term health conditions, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to keep going when life does not pause for your physical or emotional pain.
I offer a space that is honest, trauma-informed, and deeply compassionate. No toxic positivity. No spiritual bypassing. Just real support grounded in empathy, clinical understanding, and resilience. I’ll sit with you in the hard moments and help you build something meaningful from where you are.
My Therapy Approach
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SAFETY
We begin in the Grounding Zone™—a space intentionally created to help you slow down, breathe, and stop performing. In this phase, rest is radical, and you’re safe to show up exactly as you are—without needing to fix, prove, or earn your place.
For trauma survivors and those living with chronic stress, safety isn’t a given—it’s something that must be built through consistency, choice, and connection. That’s why this step is grounded in trauma-informed principles: transparency, consent, collaboration, and nervous system awareness.
Here, we focus on settling the body, building trust in the therapeutic relationship, and giving you full permission to set the pace. This phase is not about rushing into change—it’s about creating a foundation solid enough to hold everything that comes next.
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REFLECT
With the safety of the Grounding Zone™ established, we begin to explore your Auto-Pilot Self™—the part of you shaped by survival, past conditioning, and old roles that may no longer serve you. These patterns often take over when life feels uncertain or overwhelming, quietly steering your decisions, emotions, and relationships.
In this phase, we gently identify the grief, internalized narratives, and identity shifts shaped by illness, trauma, or major life changes. With curiosity and compassion—not criticism—we trace the roots of these patterns, allowing your truth to surface without shame.
This step isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness, choice, and reconnecting with the parts of you that have been on autopilot for too long.
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CREATE
After honoring and understanding your Auto-Pilot Self™, we move into the Reclaim Phase™—where intention replaces reaction. This is where your healing becomes integrative and active.
Together, we focus on reclaiming your voice, values, and boundaries in ways that are sustainable and aligned with your lived reality—not some perfected version of who you “should” be. You decide what stays, what goes, and what you’re ready to rebuild on your own terms.
This phase is about cultivating self-trust, building practices that support your nervous system, and creating space for joy, agency, and rest. It’s not about constant progress—it’s about reclaiming your right to wholeness, at your own pace.
Why Work With Me
Lived Experience Meets Clinical Skill
I don’t just understand chronic illness, trauma, and burnout from textbooks—I live it. This gives me a unique lens of empathy and practicality that supports real, sustainable change.
Direct + Compassionate Care
You won’t just vent in sessions—we’ll get to work. I offer clear feedback, structured tools, and tangible takeaways while honoring your pace and boundaries.
Whole-Person Healing
We’ll explore how childhood stories, health experiences, and societal messaging shaped how you see yourself—and we’ll work together to rewrite the script.
Support for the Complex, the Tender, and the Real-Life Struggles We Carry
Grief, Loss and Life Transitions
Living with Chronic Health Conditions
Depression & Anxiety
PTSD and CPTSD
Childhood Trauma & Neglect
Frontline Workers & First Responders
FAQs
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I currently accept Medicare, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, UMR, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and Cigna. This may include certain EAP and Medicare Advantage plans. Please contact the practice to confirm your specific coverage.
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If your insurance isn’t listed, there are still options. I can provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. I also offer private pay and sliding scale spots through Open Path Collective, and we can explore your benefits through the platforms I’m affiliated with—Tava, Alma, and Headway. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’ll find the best path forward together.
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Yes. While I specialize in supporting clients with LVADs, transplants, and complex medical experiences, my practice is open to anyone navigating chronic illness, caregiving stress, burnout, grief, trauma, or major life transitions. You don’t need a medical device or diagnosis to belong here—just a desire for support, healing, and a space to be seen.
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Limited evening appointments are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays to accommodate different schedules. Weekend sessions are available on Sundays as well as during special groups or programs. Feel free to inquire about current availability.
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I use SimplePractice which is a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform that can be accessed from your phone, tablet, or computer. No downloads required—just a private space and a stable internet connection.
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Yes. With your consent, I’m happy to collaborate with your medical team, care coordinators, or specialists to ensure a holistic and aligned approach—especially important for clients managing chronic illness or advanced medical devices.
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My approach is integrative and trauma-informed. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. I also incorporate education, somatic awareness, and real-life tools to support healing for those with chronic illness and trauma histories.
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I primarily work with adults and caregivers. I do support parents of young children, particularly those navigating complex emotional needs, medical stress, or grief in the family. If you’re looking for direct therapy for a child or teen, I’m happy to refer you to trusted colleagues.
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Absolutely. Caregivers often carry invisible burdens. I provide space to process your own needs, grief, and identity shifts while supporting a loved one with health challenges.
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You deserve care that feels safe and collaborative. I’m transparent about the process and work at your pace. My approach is consent-based, anti-shame, and grounded in the belief that healing happens in relationship—not through pressure or perfectionism.
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Yes. I honor the complexity of identity, faith, and meaning-making—especially in the context of illness, trauma, or loss. Whether you're deconstructing beliefs, rebuilding after a life change, or navigating a shift in identity, this is a space to explore with honesty and care.
