Licensed Master Social Worker | Bilingual Therapist — English & Spanish

Kristal Rivera, LMSW, is a warm, grounded, and compassionate bilingual therapist who believes therapy should feel like a space where you can slow down, feel understood, and reconnect with yourself—without judgment or pressure to have everything figured out.

Kristal has a special interest in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, somatic therapy, and nervous system regulation. She helps clients understand how past experiences can continue to show up in the present—not only in thoughts and emotions, but also in the body. Through somatic and body-aware approaches, Kristal supports clients in recognizing their stress responses, building greater emotional regulation, and developing practical ways to feel safer and more grounded in everyday life.

Her work is especially supportive for people navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma and PTSD, self-esteem, relationships, major life transitions, career or college-related stress, and the challenges that can come with simply trying to figure out what comes next. She welcomes teenagers, college students and young adults, adults, veterans, men and women, LGBTQ+ clients, and older adults.

Kristal’s style combines person-centered, psychodynamic, somatic, and strength-based approaches, allowing therapy to be tailored to each person rather than expecting every client to fit into the same box. Her goal is to create a collaborative space where clients can explore their experiences, recognize their strengths, and build tools that actually make sense for their lives.

Outside the therapy room, Kristal enjoys staying connected to nature, self-care, fitness, and earth-centered activities—which fits her naturally grounded approach to wellness and mental health.

Kristal provides therapy in English and Spanish and offers hybrid appointments through our Hartford, Connecticut office, including both in-office therapy and telehealth.

If you’re looking for a therapist who brings warmth, curiosity, and a whole-person approach to healing, Kristal may be a great fit for your next chapter.

Contact SMPsychotherapy & Counseling Services to schedule your psychosocial assessment today!