Old Town Psychotherapy

Christina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is also a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the states of Kansas, Texas, and New Mexico.  She has practiced in a variety of clinical settings including inpatient psychiatric facilities, prisons, the Veterans Administration, and in private practice. ​Christina has extensive experience with the military community, the government sector, and the first responder community. Prior to her career as a social worker, Christina worked as Department of the Army civilian employee at the Combat Studies Institute at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and as a Department of the Navy civilian researcher at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in American History from Kansas State University and a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University with a thesis on U.S. Army doctrine development following the Vietnam War. ​As a “military brat,” Christina grew up in Germany, Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC.  As a military spouse, she has volunteered extensively to support the military community at seven different bases and understands the unique needs and challenges of military life.  Her work in the military community was the impetus for a second career.​In 2013, Christina was selected as a Pat Tillman Scholar and attended the University of Kansas, earning a Master’s in Social Work.  While earning her degree, she did field practicums at the Veterans Administration, Catholic Charities, and in a foster care setting.  She subsequently moved to Texas and practiced at El Paso Behavioral Health in El Paso and Otero County Prison Facility in New Mexico. 
Christina now lives in Alexandria, Virginia with a private practice in Old Town Alexandria.  She continues to volunteer in the military community with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and the Military Spouse Behavioral Health Clinicians organization, a non-profit that engages with lawmakers on Capitol Hill for better access to mental health care for active duty military, veterans, and their families. 
Christina incorporates Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in therapy. Christina works in individual therapy sessions with adults and adolescents sixteen and older. She treats clients who have a history of depression, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, bipolar disorder, relationship issues, posttraumatic stress disorder, relationship concerns, Complex PTSD, and grief.  Her research interests are Post-traumatic Growth and Moral Injury and developments in evidence-based treatments of PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Christina is EMDR trained and working toward EMDR certification. ​Christina’s approach is based primarily in humanistic therapy. Humanistic therapy is a positive approach to psychotherapy that focuses on a person’s individual nature and looks at the whole person.  The emphasis is on a person’s positive traits and behaviors, self-awareness, mindfulness, and the ability to use personal instincts to facilitate wisdom, growth, healing, and fulfillment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Christina works collaboratively with clients to come up with a personalized approach that works for them.