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People pleasing is part of your nature...You are dedicated to “getting it right”. You work so hard - in your job or school, your relationships - but it never seems to be enough. You are exhausted. You feel defeated. And despite all efforts, things are still falling apart. The areas of your life that you can’t fully control - a relationship, your job, a circumstance or negative event, a life transition- leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxious. You are ready to feel confident and free from constant worry. You are willing to give therapy another chance... with the right person. I believe that I am that person.
I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), person centered and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) among various other therapy styles, to equip you with evidence-based tools to quickly reduce your anxiety, improve mood, and build confidence.
I've found that building a strong relationship is the foundation of any successful therapy. My grounding philosophy is to meet people where they are at and to tailor my knowledge and experience to help them get to where they want to be. My ideal clients are those motivated, committed, and open to exploring various parts of the inner self and how these parts motivate, protect, grieve, and organize us for action.
Perhaps you’ve been searching online and recognize yourself in terms like PTSD, OCD, or anxiety—and now you’re wondering, what next? That’s where I come in. My role is to help you make sense of your experiences, clarify what you’re going through, and support you in moving forward in ways that strengthen your relationships, improve your work life, and enhance your overall sense of balance and self-care. Together, we’ll focus on practical tools and deeper insight, so you can feel more grounded, confident, and in charge of your own healing.
Many of my clients grew up in families affected by abuse, addiction, emotional neglect, or divorce. Unresolved family-of-origin dynamics can quietly shape how we respond to stress, conflict, and intimacy. Even as high-functioning adults, early emotional wounds often lead to shame, self-sabotage, and strained relationships.
As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in helping people uncover and shift these long-standing patterns. My approach blends Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) with other evidence-based treatments to promote healing, emotional resilience, and lasting change. CFT helps clients move away from harsh self-criticism and toward greater self-understanding and self-kindness.
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.
I am direct, forward looking, empathetic and a good listener.
Welcome! I am a LMFT practicing in California.
I specialize in working with complex trauma/PTSD and high conflict relationships. I support clients doing deeper work to escape from repeating the same patterns.


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