Christina Wattenschaidt

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over ten years of experience in the social work field, supporting children, adults, and families. I believe that we all carry the capacity to heal within us — sometimes we just need a compassionate guide to help reach the parts of ourselves that have been hurt or hidden beneath protective layers.

I began my career in social work as a Victim Advocate where she spent nine years walking alongside survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families. While earning my Master of Social Work I trained at a local domestic violence/rape crisis center, supporting survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. I later completed the Level 1 Advanced Trauma Treatment Certification through the Ferentz Institute, and I continue to deepen my trauma-focused work with my recent certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).

I don't believe in "one size fits all," therefore I often integrate various approaches in my sessions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Motivational Interviewing, Family Systems, attachment-based interventions, and Polyvagal-informed strategies. I highly value authenticity, safety, and collaboration, and I strive to create a space where clients feel truly seen, understood, and empowered to grow.

I know starting therapy can feel like a big step, and it’s completely normal to feel a mix of emotions. In our first session, my focus is on helping you feel comfortable, safe, and heard. We’ll spend time getting to know you at your pace. I’ll ask about what’s bringing you in and what you’ve been experiencing, but there’s no pressure to share everything all at once — you’re always in control of what you choose to share. You can expect a collaborative, nonjudgmental space where you don’t need to have everything figured out. By the end of the session, we’ll check in about how it felt and discuss next steps if you’d like to continue.