Kris Eldridge
When trouble strikes, whether it is relationship issues, kids rebelling, or the struggles of a serious illness, it often helps to discuss the problem with someone who understands your lifestyle and can relate to your situation.
Licensed Professional Counselor Kris Eldridge, who recently opened her new practice in The Village at Las Sendas, has lived here locally for 28 years, and has spent 15 of those years teaching in Mesa schools.
“I feel I have a unique understanding of the families who live in this area and the common problems they face,” Kris said. “That’s why I chose to work here. I believe I can make a real difference in the lives of my community.”
“People instinctively know what they need to do to correct their situations, but there is so much outside extraneous influence and clutter that it might be hard for them to focus on their solution,” she continued. “That is where I can help direct them. My approach is that counseling is not a lifetime thing. It’s simply helping individuals to begin working independently on their own positive outcomes.”
While working in Mesa schools, Kris, who had already earned a Master of Education degree from Arizona State University (ASU), sometimes felt she could not give the required attention to students who suffered from academic stress or family problems. “I am a big supporter of Mesa schools,” Kris stated. “My own kids went to school here. But over time, more and more is expected of us in education, and there is only so much you can do as a teacher,” she lamented. So, in 2010, she decided to go back to ASU to earn her master’s degree in counseling.
Kris started working as a youth and family counselor for the Town of Gilbert, where she assisted court-ordered clients and participated in the department’s free counseling service for families. “I saw a lot of real need in the community, especially in the area of mental health options,” she said.
It was a really great job and a wonderful experience, but she left in mid-2014 to fulfill her dream of opening a private practice in Mesa. Then, this summer, she moved her office to The Village at Las Sendas.
“It seems my teaching experience kept drawing me back,” Kris admitted. “I decided to return to my roots and my neighborhood to share what I had learned, and hopefully help early adolescents, teens and families with problem-solving skills, and show them how to manage and process their issues.”
She applies a specific approach to working with her clients. “I create a personalized therapeutic approach for each client and work collaboratively with them to assist them in achieving the insight and skills needed to successfully navigate the challenges they face in their lives,” Kris said. She invites questions by email through her website at www.kriseldridgelpc.org.
For more information about Kris Eldridge and her practice, or to make an appointment, visit www.kriseldridgelpc.org, or call (602) 499-3542. Her office is located at 2929 N. Power Road, Suite C-11.