HOW I WORK

Christine Molina, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Trauma, Anxiety, ADHD, and EMDR Counselor
EMDR Consultant
AEDP Therapist
IFS-Informed/Ego State Therapist
Somatic Experiencing (SE™) Student

My Philosophy of Therapy and Consulting

Therapy is a powerful way to grow, change and unlock your potential.

A dear mentor of mine used to say:

“Successful people work on themselves.”

I love this phrase because we live in a very mental-health-saavy culture, and many people today realize that working on yourself therapeutically is one of the best ways to help you succeed and reach your goals.

Our Roles in Therapy

For therapy to be effective, MY ROLE is:

  • To listen, be supportive, and see you for who you are to ensure you feel safe to reveal your authentic self.

  • To work collaboratively with you and set a pace for therapy that suits your unique needs.

  • To use my specialized training to help you overcome deeply-rooted issues such as depression, anxiety, and trauma to make lasting changes.

  • To help you embrace your unique gifts and provide a structure to help you gain deeper insight, connect with your emotional experience, and acquire skills to move forward.

  • To help you understand how your brain works and how it may differ from others due to how you were raised, a learning disability, ADHD, or if you’ve experienced traumatic events at any point in your life.

For therapy to be effective, YOUR ROLE is:

  • To listen to yourself – your deepest needs and desires and bring these to therapy.

  • To be open to learning about yourself – your blind spots, strengths, values, and deepest desires.

  • To be open and take risks to try new ways of thinking and behaving.

  • To commit to the therapy process and understand that lasting change takes time.

  • To be willing to examine and change any lifestyle patterns that hold you back from living a healthy and rewarding life.

Counseling Approach

I use scientifically-validated therapy approaches such as EMDR, AEDP, IFS, Ego State Therapy, DBT, CBT, attachment theory, neuroscience, and somatic approaches, which are described below.

I tailor my style and approach to your individual needs and goals while ensuring that I am attuned to you and our relationship throughout the counseling process.

We’ll work on a deep and transformative level that brings relief and lasting change so you can be successful in your relationships, work, and all other aspects of your life.

Here is a summary of the main research-based counseling approaches I use:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR is particularly effective because it relies on how your brain processes and stores information, offering healing from deep-rooted trauma, anxiety, and the self-limiting thoughts and emotions that hold you back.

EMDR can also help you regulate difficult emotions, deal with challenges and stress, enhance performance at work, and work through stuck points.

AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy)

AEDP harnesses the safety and power of our therapeutic relationship to help you heal emotional wounds and activate your innate capacity for healing and resilience. It can assist you in making the most out of opportunities for growth and transformation.

IFS (Internal Family Systems) / Ego State Therapy

IFS and ego state therapy work in diverse ways, but the end goal is the same: to help you heal by accessing, understanding and healing your protective and wounded inner parts. This allows you to work through inner conflict and stuck points, uncover the most beautiful elements of yourself, and connect with yourself and others in new ways.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

DBT and CBT enable you to deepen your awareness and develop practical skills to better manage emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that hold you back. You can use these skills outside of therapy to make your life more manageable and enjoyable.

ADD/ADHD Skills

If you struggle with ADD or ADHD, it’s essential to learn new strategies that work with your unique brain. We’ll help you learn specific skills to tackle ADD/ADHD challenges such as procrastination, overwhelm, organization, time management, impulsivity, motivation, and relationship issues.

I’ll also help you identify and play to your ADHD strengths. This way, you can capitalize on what you do best and increase the times when you feel engaged, productive, and energized.

Brain-Based Strategies

Brain-Based Strategies that come from neurobiology, attachment therapy, and other wide-ranging somatic (body-based) approaches that incorporate insight into how your brain works and how problems manifest in your mind and body. These approaches provide deep healing on a neurological level, help you understand who you are, and help you move beyond the obstacles that hold you back.

Getting Started with Therapy

STEP 1

The first step is to schedule a free, no-obligation 15-minute phone consultation call. This initial consultation allows us to explore your needs, concerns, and goals to see if my services, style, and background are right for you.

If we decide I am not the best person for your needs, I’ll provide referrals for other therapists who might be a better match.

STEP 2

If we decide to move forward after the free consultation, we’ll schedule our first online appointment (via video conference). I’ll send you some paperwork to complete online before our session.

STEP 3

In our first online appointment, we’ll review the initial intake paperwork you completed so I can learn more about you and your background. I’ll also explain further how therapy works and how we might address your concerns.

If you’re ready to get started, contact me now for our free 15-minute phone call.

*I offer online therapy via video conference to easily fit into your busy lifestyle, so you don’t have to fight traffic and schedule commute time to get to our sessions.