LMFT, 10 years of experience
Hello and welcome. Reaching out for therapy often begins during uncertain, vulnerable times. I’m grateful you’re here—choosing to make space for yourself, to be seen and heard, and to share the parts of your story that have been carried quietly for too long. This will be your space—steady, compassionate, and yours to grow in. To carry this forward, I approach therapy with a strong relational focus and deep honor for the process we’ll share. As The Sidecar Therapist, my mission is to ride alongside you—navigating the terrain, facing challenges together, one step at a time. Whether you’re looking to set healthy boundaries, heal attachment wounds, reconnect with—and fall in love with—your authentic self, or find support through a neurodiverse lens, I’m here to hold space for you and offer a restorative process. Some paths may be linear, others winding, or marked by U-turns. But wherever your journey takes us, our work will be rooted in compassion, humility, and the amplification of joy. This approach is shaped by my own lived experience, a diverse career path, and the training I’ve pursued—all of which deepen my understanding of the complexities of being human. I’m lighthearted, compassionate, caring, and real. I’ll meet you exactly where you are, with flexibility and deep respect for the realities of your life. I’ll hold space without judgment, and when you're ready, I’ll gently nudge you forward. Together, we’ll shape a path that reflects your values, your needs, and the vision you hold for yourself. Modalities used: An Integrative Therapy approach, including: -Vulnerability & Humor -Interpersonal Psychotherapy -Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) -Narrative Therapy -Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) -Somatic Therapy -Psychoeducation -Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) -Attachment Theory
I will work to promote self-love and trust, and teach healthy boundary setting while being sensitive to the complexity of inherited cultural, religious, or societal expectations. In our first session together, we'll start with introductions, then dive into the specifics of what has brought you to therapy. We will work as a team to create therapy goals and I will answer any questions or concerns regarding our work together.
Through my own life experiences, various career paths, and specific training, I am able to offer my clients a shared understanding of the complexities of our human condition. I will hold space for you without judgment, gently nudge you when you're ready, and help you gain your confidence and empower your voice. I am lighthearted, compassionate, caring and real. I honor your journey and where you are at, and respect the realities of your life. I will work with you, as you are the expert in your life, to create the path you seek.
I love working with individuals who are ready to confront the challenges that diminish their sense of fulfillment. I’m passionate about supporting those who are finding their voice, building confidence, and increasing self-esteem. I also work with individuals navigating the complexities of separation or divorce, offering guidance and empowerment as they adjust to co-parenting and single-parent households. With extensive training and experience in supporting individuals with post-traumatic stress, I incorporate EMDR when appropriate to reduce hyperarousal and emotional reactivity, helping clients reclaim control and emotional stability.
2 ratings with written reviews
May 12, 2025
Everyone has a therapist that was made for them, and Cris has been my heart’s therapist in the most perfect way. She makes me feel good about myself and so much more capable than I do when going into session by the time it’s over. She deserves all of her flowers <3
April 30, 2025
I look forward to our sessions. I always know I will be able to declutter my thoughts and move forward with strategies for the week ahead. I appreciate her ability to connect topics I have approached in our previous sessions to current issues. I have been able to begin to work through decades of traumatic issues. Finding trust like that, alone speaks volumes, doing the work with confidence is beyond words. I knew it was time to deal with my pain and my therapist couldn't have been a better fit.
I’ve been using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in my practice for the past nine years. With CBT, we learn the connections between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I utilize CBT to help clients map reoccurring thoughts, learn concrete coping skills for managing overwhelming emotions, and gain healthy ways of working through the challenges in their lives. CBT also incorporates the use of homework between therapy sessions to maximize reflection, growth, and change in unwanted behavior. Together, we can decide on the appropriate use of homework assignments for your individual needs to achieve the best outcomes.
The integration of attachment theory in therapy explores how our formative relationships (or attachments) with primary caregivers has played a central role in the way we develop patterns of behavior in relationships with others. These attachment relationships have both physical and emotional qualities and are based on our individual experience of our caregivers as sources of support. When we experience secure attachment with our caregivers, we are often able to explore new environments, take risks, and develop a stable sense of self and the other. When we do not experience safe or secure attachment, different types of insecure attachments may form. These insecure attachments often inhibit the development of healthy interpersonal skills and can contribute to the development of mental health difficulties (e.g., depression, anxiety). To explore these concepts we discuss how emotional regulation was learned from caregivers, and examine the level of responsiveness received in those early relationships.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress resulting from a disturbing life experience (trauma). The goal of EMDR therapy is to heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. For example, when you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, the healing process can resume. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced. Over the last 7 years, using detailed protocols and procedures learned from EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) approved training, I’ve helped clients activate their natural healing processes. As with other psychotherapies, one size does not fit all. There may be situations in one’s life that inhibit the ability to effectively navigate certain processes needed to safely move through the 8 phases of EMDR treatment. Together, we can determine if EMDR treatment would be appropriate.