Christie Iribarren
Hi, I'm Christie Iribarren, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a passion for helping people navigate life's challenges and create meaningful, lasting change. I specialize in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions, providing compassionate, trauma-informed, and LGBTQ+ affirming care.
Your story matters. I offer compassionate, trauma-informed, and LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy to help you heal, grow, and move forward with confidence.
My private practice offers a warm, supportive, and judgment-free space where adolescents and adults can feel heard, understood, and empowered. I offer both in-person therapy in Coral Springs, Florida, and virtual sessions throughout the state.
First session
Your first session is really about getting to know each other and helping you feel comfortable. I know reaching out for therapy can feel intimidating, especially if it's your first time, so there's no pressure to share everything all at once. We'll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you've been experiencing, and what you hope to gain from our time together. I'll ask questions to better understand your story, but we'll always move at a pace that feels right for you. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for what it's like to work with me. My goal is for you to leave our first session feeling heard, supported, and hopeful, knowing that you don't have to figure everything out on your own.
Strengths
I bring warmth, authenticity, compassion, and a genuine curiosity about each person’s unique story to every session. My approach is down-to-earth, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that you deserve to feel truly heard and understood, without judgment. With extensive experience supporting individuals through trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions, I bring both clinical expertise and a deep appreciation for the resilience people carry, even when they can't see it in themselves. I believe therapy doesn't have to feel intimidating or overly clinical. There's room for honest conversations, humor, and meaningful connection. I meet you where you are, gently challenge you when needed, and help you discover practical tools and new perspectives that support lasting change. Above all, I want you to feel comfortable being yourself, knowing you don't have to navigate life's challenges alone.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone who may be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from the person they want to be. They might be struggling with anxiety, depression, past trauma, grief, relationship challenges, or a major life transition. Perhaps they've spent years putting others first, carrying the weight of difficult experiences, or feeling like they should have everything figured out by now. I especially enjoy working with adolescents and adults who want to better understand themselves, break unhealthy patterns, build confidence, and create more fulfilling lives. You don't need to have all the answers or even know where to begin. You just need to be open to exploring what's holding you back. Whether you're ready to make significant changes or simply hoping to feel a little more like yourself again, we'll work together at a pace that feels right for you. My goal is to help you feel empowered, connected, and hopeful about your future.
Treatment methods
Attachment-based
Our relationships, especially the ones we experienced growing up, can shape how we connect with others and how we feel about ourselves. I use attachment-based therapy to help you understand why certain patterns may keep showing up in your relationships, such as difficulty trusting others, fear of being rejected, or putting everyone else's needs before your own. Together, we'll explore how past experiences may be influencing your relationships today, without judgment or blame. My goal is to help you feel more secure in yourself, build healthier connections, set boundaries, and develop relationships where you feel safe, valued, and understood. You can't change your past, but you can change how it affects your present and future.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you better understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. I also recognize that the way we see ourselves and respond to the world is often shaped by what we've been through. Sometimes the habits and ways of thinking that helped us get through difficult times can leave us feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or hard on ourselves. Together, we'll explore these patterns with kindness and curiosity, without judgment or pressure to change before you're ready. I won't tell you to simply "think positive" or ignore what you've experienced. Instead, I'll help you find practical ways to manage difficult emotions, quiet your inner critic, and approach challenges with greater confidence and self-compassion. We'll move at a pace that feels right for you, always remembering that healing isn't about changing who you are, but helping you feel more comfortable, confident, and at peace with yourself.
Compassion-Focused
I use Compassion-Focused Therapy to help you develop a kinder, more understanding relationship with yourself. So many of us are quick to offer compassion to others but struggle to give ourselves that same kindness, especially when we're dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or feelings of not being good enough. Together, we'll explore where that inner critic comes from and how past experiences may have shaped the way you see and treat yourself. I'll help you learn to respond to difficult emotions with understanding rather than judgment, and to recognize that you deserve the same patience and care you so freely give to others. This doesn't mean ignoring mistakes or pretending everything is okay. It means learning to support yourself through life's challenges instead of being your own harshest critic. My hope is that you'll begin to feel more comfortable with who you are, trust yourself more, and approach life with greater confidence, self-acceptance, and compassion.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
believe you are the expert on your own life, and my role is to walk alongside you, not tell you who you should be or how you should feel. My person-centered approach means creating a warm, welcoming space where you can show up exactly as you are, without fear of judgment or pressure to have everything figured out. I take the time to truly listen, understand your experiences, and see the person beyond the challenges that brought you to therapy. Together, we'll explore what matters most to you, build on the strengths you already have, and work toward changes that feel meaningful to your life. I bring compassion, honesty, and sometimes a little humor into our conversations because I believe genuine connection is an important part of healing. Above all, I want you to feel heard, respected, and empowered to grow in your own way and at your own pace.
Trauma-Informed Care
believe that what we've been through shapes how we see ourselves, connect with others, and move through the world. Sometimes experiences from our past continue to affect us in ways we don't even realize. My trauma-informed approach starts with understanding that many of the ways you've learned to cope, protect yourself, or respond to difficult situations developed for a reason. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with you?" I'm more interested in understanding what you've been through and how it's affecting you today. I also recognize that our identities and experiences shape how safe, accepted, and understood we feel in the world. As an LGBTQIA+-affirming therapist, I understand that experiences of rejection, discrimination, or feeling like you have to hide parts of yourself can leave lasting emotional wounds. I strive to create a space where you feel genuinely welcomed, respected, and free to be yourself, without having to explain or defend who you are. I'll never expect you to share more than you're comfortable with or push you to revisit painful experiences before you're ready. Together, we'll work on understanding how your experiences have affected you, building on your strengths, and finding ways to feel more confident, connected, and at peace with yourself. I believe healing isn't about forgetting the past or changing who you are. It's about helping you feel less weighed down by what you've experienced so you can move forward feeling safe, empowered, and comfortable being your authentic self.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions7522 Wiles Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33067, Suite B213