Hi there, I'm Christine. It is a real privilege in life to serve as a therapist, and I greatly appreciate your bravery and vulnerability in seeking out support. I strongly believe in the importance and healing nature of being seen, heard, and understood within a warm, therapeutic relationship, combined with evidence-based techniques, such as EMDR and Compassion-Focused CBT. As a therapist, I am committed to compassionate, curious support to help you live authentically, joyfully, and reclaim that kindness towards yourself to navigate difficulties in life. I tend to be gentle, sensitive, and flexible in my approach, tailoring what I do to your desired direction. A little bit about my background: I earned a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts (Majors: Psychology, English, Creative Writing) from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. I started in the mental health field when I ran an LGBTQ+ Sexual Assault Support Group; volunteered as a crisis counselor; and interned during my master's program as a therapist at specialty Trauma/Grief and Anxiety/OCD clinics. And for the past few years, I had been a therapist for intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, supporting those who needed more regular support for mental health. I find it immensely rewarding supporting Highly Sensitive People (HSPs), Autistic/ADHD adults, trauma survivors, and those with anxiety, depression, stress, and grief/loss. I have lived experience as a Highly Sensitive Person on the spectrum, and have personally experienced trauma - and healing from trauma. I would be honored to support you in your journey, and encourage you to reach out if you feel that we may be a good fit together.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session together, we will start with brief introductions and, at your level of comfort, start to learn more about your story. We will also start to map out a desired direction in therapy, whether you simply want to talk through life challenges or had specific goals in mind. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in future sessions. I will also check in to ensure you feel we are a good fit together, then schedule our next session.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

It is my greatest strength that I have deep, sustained compassion for those from all walks of life, and advocate for those who are often misunderstood. I'm often described as having a “quiet confidence” and am skilled at balancing passion with wisdom. I am committed to engaging in regular self-reflection and consultation with other therapists. I tend to be the go-to resource for Highly Sensitive People, Autism, ADHD, Bipolar, and Trauma/Grief. I'm endlessly curious about learning more about these areas and to continually grow, evolve, and provide the most healing experiences I can for my clients. I embrace my sensitive nature as a therapist and offer gentleness, kindness, and validation as core to my approach. I believe in respecting my clients' autonomy, which may look like respecting your comfort levels in what you choose to discuss - or strategies we use together. I tend to be well-suited to those who like deep dives and coming to new insights.

About Christine MacKenzie