Sarai "Christi" Webb-Vanderpoorten, LMFT

Sarai "Christi" Webb-Vanderpoorten is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master of Science degree and has worked across inpatient treatment centers, mental hospitals, and outpatient private practice. Christi brings a practical, down-to-earth approach to helping people who are struggling with substance use, depression, anxiety, grief, and relationship challenges.

She looks at each person from multiple angles - physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Sessions tend to be straightforward and warm. Christi is described as loving and understanding while also direct and honest. Her work often focuses on identifying what a person needs and finding realistic steps toward that goal.

Christi’s practice pays attention to everyday habits and thoughts that shape how people feel and act. She draws on methods like cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness to help people notice patterns and try small changes. Emotion-focused ideas and client-centered work guide how she listens and responds during sessions.

Over three decades she has supported people dealing with trauma and abuse, eating and body-image issues, addiction, parenting and blended-family stress, codependency, and intimacy-related concerns. She also helps with communication problems, impulsivity, guilt and shame, and coping with life transitions.

Christi practices in Alabama and works in English. Her background includes work with first responders and people facing divorce or separation. People who want a therapist who blends practical self-care, spiritual perspective, and steady guidance may find her approach a good fit.

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening without judgment and following what matters most to the person. It helps people feel heard and explore their goals at their own pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and everyday habits and helps people test new ways of thinking and acting to reduce anxiety, low mood, or unhealthy patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches practical skills for managing strong emotions and impulsive behaviors and can be useful for stress, impulsivity, and relationship difficulties.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Christi will work with clients to figure out which methods match their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can change over time as new issues come up or progress is made.

Confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow for quicker check-ins when life gets hectic. It can also make sessions more convenient when quieter surroundings or less screen time are needed. Discuss format preferences during the matching process so sessions align with daily routines and goals.