Cristina Plessinger
Hi, I’m Cristina, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist passionate about supporting women through life’s overwhelming, messy, and transitional seasons. I work with clients navigating anxiety, postpartum challenges, stress, trauma, relationship difficulties, burnout, and major life changes. My approach is warm, supportive, and down to earth while still being grounded in evidence-based practices. I strive to create a space where clients feel safe to be honest, understood without judgment, and empowered to better understand themselves and create meaningful change.
I work with clients navigating anxiety, postpartum challenges, stress, trauma, relationship difficulties, burnout, and major life changes.
I believe therapy should feel collaborative and approachable, not intimidating. Whether you’re trying to reconnect with yourself, heal from difficult experiences, or simply stop feeling stuck in survival mode, my goal is to help you feel more grounded, confident, and supported along the way.
First session
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin building a comfortable, supportive therapeutic relationship. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, the challenges you’ve been experiencing, your goals for treatment, and any relevant background information that may help me better understand your experiences. My approach is warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy, and there is no pressure to share more than you feel ready for. The first session is also an opportunity for you to ask questions, get a feel for my approach, and determine whether the space feels like a good fit for you. Together, we’ll begin identifying areas of focus and discuss how therapy can support you moving forward.
Strengths
My greatest strengths as a therapist are creating a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space while also helping clients create meaningful, practical change in their lives. Clients often appreciate that my approach feels both compassionate and grounded, allowing them to feel comfortable being honest and vulnerable without feeling judged or overwhelmed. I work collaboratively with clients to better understand patterns, process difficult emotions and experiences, and build healthier coping strategies that feel realistic and sustainable. I integrate evidence-based approaches such as CBT, attachment-based therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs and goals. I am especially passionate about supporting women through anxiety, postpartum experiences, life transitions, burnout, trauma, and relationship challenges, helping clients move from survival mode toward feeling more connected, confident, and emotionally grounded.
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to support women navigating anxiety, postpartum and motherhood transitions, stress, burnout, life changes, relationship challenges, and trauma. Many of the clients I work with are high-functioning on the outside but internally feel overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in survival mode. I work well with clients who are looking for a supportive, nonjudgmental space to better understand themselves, improve coping skills, process difficult experiences, and create meaningful, lasting change in their lives.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In my practice, I use CBT to support anxiety, depression, postpartum challenges, stress, and life transitions by helping clients identify unhelpful thought patterns, build coping skills, and develop healthier ways of responding to difficult emotions and situations.
Attachment-based
I use an attachment-based approach to help clients understand how early relationships and past experiences may impact their current emotions, relationships, and sense of self. In practice, this looks like exploring patterns, building emotional awareness, and creating a safe, supportive space for clients to develop healthier connections with themselves and others.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing to help clients explore ambivalence, strengthen motivation for change, and build confidence in their ability to move forward. My approach is collaborative and nonjudgmental, helping clients identify their own goals, values, and readiness for change in a supportive and empowering way.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I use mindfulness-based approaches to help clients increase self-awareness, manage stress, and stay more grounded in the present moment. In practice, this may include mindfulness techniques, emotional regulation skills, and strategies to help clients respond to thoughts and emotions with greater balance and self-compassion.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
I use Solution Focused Therapy to help clients identify strengths, build on existing coping skills, and focus on practical steps toward meaningful change. My approach emphasizes goals, progress, and solutions while helping clients feel empowered and capable of moving forward.
Location
Virtual sessions