Christina Octa

My name is Christina, and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida. I grew up as a second generation immigrant in Florida, which allows me to be acutely aware of the impacts of cultural and generation trauma, and how that impacts the way you move through the world. Additionally, I also live with chronic illness and deeply empathize with how isolating it can feel to carry invisible challenges that affect your self-worth, relationships, and career. The burden of carrying invisible struggles in spaces that expect resilience without rest is incredibly overwhelming. My unique experiences challenged me to create a new narrative in which healthy boundaries, supportive relationships, improved positive self-talk, and communication exist without guilt or shame. I am reminded that I can be kind without neglecting my needs. I continue to practice patience with my anxiety, as it does not cause harm intentionally. I want to give you the same space to connect more deeply with yourself, to examine how your life experiences shape how you move through the world, and how to shed the things that keep you stuck.

My life experience shapes my belief that healing begins when we feel seen and understood. Therapy with me isn’t about fixing who you are; it’s about reconnecting with the parts of you that have been exiled, silenced, or overlooked. I enjoy using a variety of therapeutic approaches to achieve that, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Person-Centered therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. I find these therapies are able to help clients navigate anxiety, trauma, ADHD, self-esteem, chronic illness, and the impacts of the cross cultural life experience.

Helping clients to challenge narratives that are rooted in guilt, shame, and burden is incredibly satisfying work for me. Let me embolden you to live your most authentic life! I encourage you to meet yourself and take up all the space you need. Taking up space does not make you “selfish”. Having boundaries does not make you "controlling". Choosing to be your best, unapologetic self does not make you “inconsiderate”. There is no need to shrink yourself into environments or for people that you have outgrown.

You deserve a space where you feel heard and valued—let’s create that together.