Dr. Kristin L. Dempsey, LMFT, LPCC

Dr. Kristin Dempsey, EdD, LPCC, LMFT, is an esteemed figure in the field of psychotherapy, counseling education, and motivational interviewing. With nearly three decades of dedicated experience, she has significantly impacted community mental health settings and K-12 schools, offering vital mental health and substance use education and treatment services. Presently, Kristin continues her transformative work by providing support to individuals and families in her San Francisco and Burlingame offices, as well as through telehealth. Her expertise extends to various complex conditions, including co-occurring mental health and substance use issues, trauma, and eating disorders.

As a MINT Certified Trainer, Kristin is committed to training a diverse range of mental health and helping professionals in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, crisis interventions, and various cognitive-behavioral and behavioral therapy approaches. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in a strengths-based perspective that explores values and meaning-building for clients, supervisees, and clinicians alike. Additionally, she contributes to the academic community as an associate professor at the Wright Institute’s Counseling Psychology Program and as a dedicated lecturer at San Francisco State University. Kristin’s recent book, “Harm Recovery Workbook for Addiction” (New Harbinger, 2024), is a testament to her dedication to advancing the field of mental health and addiction treatment, making her an inspirational figure in the realm of mental health and therapy.