- CBT based
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution focused
About Sonya
Sonya Kirven is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Connecticut with nine years of counseling experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and the strain of life changes. Sonya also helps people dealing with compassion fatigue, relationship and parenting concerns, career questions, and issues around abandonment, attachment, self-love, and life purpose.
Sonya uses an integrative approach grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, Client-Centered Therapy, and solution-focused methods to suit what a person needs in the moment. Sessions focus on practical steps and clearer thinking rather than jargon or abstract theory.
In sessions she emphasizes a person-centered style that centers the client's perspective and choices. Conversations often include setting small goals, testing new ways of responding, and checking what works in day-to-day life. She describes therapy as collaborative and iterative - if one approach doesn’t help, she will try another.
Sonya’s background includes extensive work with young adults and adults, and experience in roles connected to child protective services. That history informs her understanding of relationship stress, parenting pressures, and career-related shifts.
People who feel stuck after a job change, a breakup, or a health event may find practical support in her approach. She encourages gradual steps toward clearer priorities and steadier routines, while keeping the client’s own goals central to the work.
How her approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on identifying personal values and taking small, value-driven actions that suit someone’s everyday life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses practical exercises to reduce distress and improve routines.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. She treats approach selection as a collaborative process and will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past. Together they test methods and adjust the plan based on what the client notices and reports.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting appointments around work or caregiving, attending from a quieter spot without travel time, and using shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Online sessions can also make it easier to try skills in daily life between meetings and then review how those efforts went with the therapist.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Listed in
Connecticut
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and coping with life changes. She also focuses on relationship and parenting issues, career concerns, compassion fatigue, abandonment, attachment, and life purpose.
How does she approach people who feel stuck?
Her style is integrative with a strong CBT foundation, using practical steps and short-term goals. She combines ACT, Motivational Interviewing, Client-Centered methods, and solution-focused techniques as needed.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has nine years of counseling experience and more than a decade of prior roles working with young adults and families connected to child protective services.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds the LPC credential and practices in Connecticut.
Does she offer sessions in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the matching and scheduling process.
What is the first step to begin working together?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.