

Hi my name is Cristina, my pro nouns are she/her. I went to two private institutions and graduated with my masters of science in Clinical Psychology. While In grad school I had the privilege of working with children in inpatient pediatric mental health for two years at CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County. Shortly after I began working in residential addiction treatment with adults at AKUA in Newport Beach for another two years. While at AKUA I graduated from grad school and left to focus my attention in private practice where I currently center LGBTQ+ and POC clients and allies.
I believe that our creative and determined psyche allows us to “make it through” whatever life throws our way. We develop ideals, patterns, behaviors, and ways of thinking about the world, ourselves, and others. These things that at one point were meant to be protective and preserve us can overtime unknowingly to us be the very thing that gets in our way preventing us from living the life we ultimately desire. It can manifest itself in ways such as feeling frustrated with ourselves, self hate, feeling stuck, disconnected from our body, or even frozen with anxiety, depression, and maybe suicidal thoughts.
For over 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of helping individuals untangle the weight of trauma, stress, and life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Whether you’re feeling on edge, disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, therapy can be a place to finally exhale.
I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master of Art's Degree in Clinical Psychology. I'm deeply passionate about both empowering and helping others to heal and grow. I’ve been in the mental health field for over 18 years and feel that the work that I do is indeed my life purpose I specialize in trauma and like to work from a holistic lens of care. I’m trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Hypnosis for Trauma & PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder). I’m also a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP), Trauma Informed Yoga.
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults, young adults, older adults, immigrants, and first-generation individuals navigating life’s transitions. I support clients experiencing anxiety, depression, and grief, as well as those seeking greater clarity, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.
Most suffering is a result of the ways we police ourselves, doubt ourselves, and become our own oppressors. When we feel pain it’s easy to get stuck in blame at ourselves or at others. Therapy is a path that overcomes these pitfalls. It’s about feeling what you feel without get lost in it, it’s about nurturing yourself back to strength, it’s about staying grounded in who you are and in creatively pursuing what you want. Sometimes there are wounds, scripts, and patterns that get in the way of accomplishing this. Good therapy brings attention and compassion to these so they can be processed and let go of.


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