Christina Chismar

Hello! I'm Christina, and I'm honored to be your counselor. With over 20 years of experience in counseling, I am dedicated to helping you navigate your journey toward a more fulfilling life. I specialize in working with trauma and attachment issues. My caseload generally consists of women facing depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and trauma; couples seeking better communication; parents managing children's or teens' behaviors, especially in foster or adoption situations; and young adults striving for independence and healthy boundaries. Please note that for child or teen therapy, I require an initial parents-only session, followed by 2-4 sessions with parents present to establish treatment goals.

I hold a Master's in Social Work from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor's in Social Work from Oral Roberts University. In 2000, I was recognized by the American Red Cross as an American Hero. I am a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed cosmetologist, and a professional therapeutic clown.

My counseling philosophy is rooted in empowerment. I believe that the counseling process is not guesswork but a structured journey where we can identify a clear roadmap for your unique needs. Everyone deserves to feel safe and satisfied, and I am here to help you gain understanding and awareness of your situation, giving you the power and control to achieve the changes you desire. By understanding the facts of your body, mind, and spirit, you can choose to live the life you want.

Many of my clients appreciate my Christian counseling perspective, but I am always willing to accommodate your preferences to ensure your comfort. I practice from a solution-focused brief therapy model and utilize various treatment approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, TheraPlay (teaching parents), Sensory Processing tools, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, limited EMDR, and Intensive Therapy.

In our first session you can expect me to start with the normal counseling disclaimers and welcome introductions. I will generally ask about what is bringing to counseling now and what you are hoping to accomplish. From there we discussed treatment plan goals and what the treatment plan might look like. Because everyone's treatment plan and treatment goals are different, every intake session is custom to what you need as a client. You get to tell me what you want and need, and I'll work hard to help you develop a plan to accomplish what you are wanting. I look forward to helping you get the peace and freedom you are wanting. Look forward to meeting you!