Kristine Altwies

Kristine Altwies, MA, LMFT, is Clinical Director at Pono Roots Counseling Center. A family systems therapist, she uses Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative therapy, and trauma-informed care and has EMDR training.

She brings over three decades of experience across adoption, education, and mental health, including roles as a secondary school teacher, managing editor of the Wiley Encyclopedia of Psychology, and Executive Director of Hawai'i International Child Placement and Family Services.

Licensed in Hawaii, Michigan, and New Jersey, she works with couples, teens, and individuals ages 18 and up and is LGBTQIA+ supportive. Her areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, adoption and family of origin issues, marriage and relationship support, life transitions, parenting, FASDs, and neuro-diverse children; she emphasizes collaborative, trauma-informed care that invites exploration of family origins and practical insight.