CHRISTINA
Your transformation from living with shame to having a loving relationship with yourself is my passion and purpose.
Henderson
As corny as it sounds, my mission on this planet is love. I believe love begins inside each of us, then ripples out to the other relationships in our lives. My hope is to reach women who struggle the most with self love. I want to see them free of shame and living their most inspired, passionate, creative, healthy, and connected lives.
Like most people, I feel a desire to help where I have once hurt. I am a human who has walked through immensely difficult and dark moments in life. And, I have come out the other side; or perhaps better stated: I am continuously coming out the other side given healing is a journey. Some of these dark moments were products of my own making, driven by unhealed parts of myself. Others, just the inevitable curveballs and heartbreaks life throws in our direction. These experiences have provided me with insight, strategies for healing, and empathy which I use to support my clients.
My Mission
My Education & Experience
Life experience is not enough to work effectively with people. I also hold both a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Social Work, have taken a variety of training outside of academics, and have worked in multiple areas of mental health including with youth and families, women struggling with substance misuse, and in health care. I am currently the founder of Expression Wellness Group, a collective of trauma therapists working in the Fraser Valley. I am also a sessional instructor at the School of Social Work and Human Services at the University of the Fraser Valley.
More About Me
I think you will find me to be warm, genuine, and honest. I pride myself on simply being a real human who cares deeply for other humans.
My life is full and rich. I am a mother to two (almost) grown daughters who are my ‘reason to be.’ I have a beautiful network of friends and family. I am a passionate (although not necessarily talented) photographer and poet. I dream of writing a book. I love music, live whenever possible! I move my body as much as I can: hiking, weight training, dancing, and yoga. I’m a spiritual nerd who loves to explore the mysteries of the universe.
If you feel we’d connect, I’d love to hear from you
More information below
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My Clinical Modalities
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
A model of therapy that emphasizes the use of our higher, authentic self, to work with various “parts” of ourselves causing suffering. There are three categories of parts: managers, firefighters, and exiles. Manager parts developed as protection to keep us safe, loved and belonged (ex. anxiety, perfectionism, criticism, anger, control, and people pleasing). Firefighter parts serve to numb/dissociate from painful feelings (ex. drugs and alcohol, food, self-harm, shopping, and technology). Exiles are young, childlike parts carrying our deepest wounds (rejection, abandonment, shame, and terror).
Somatic processing
Acknowledges painful emotions and experiences are stored in the body. Uses techniques that allow us to drop into our body for processing and release of these traumas.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Bi-lateral stimulation (ex. tapping, side-to-side eye movements) paired with exposure (remembering) traumatic incidences to reprocess and reduce distress when recalling these events.
Other pathways to healing
Creativity: writing, art, photography, music
Movement: nature walks, yoga, weight training, dance
Psychedelic Integration: Pre-journey preparation and post-journey support to synthesize psychedelic wisdom for lasting healing