Cristina Shea (She/Her/Hers)

Every family is unique, and I aim to maintain the integrity of each unit while understanding the inner workings of makes that family unique. Together, we will better understand the dynamics of the family and the influences that have played a role in family development. My primary goals is to help guide family members through challenging emotions and conflicts, finding a safe resolution for everyone.

Adolescence is a critical time of emotional growth and identity development. As adults, we often look back and laugh or wince at the woes of that time in our lives. As teens, however, that time felt full of uncertainty, as our bodies and emotions rapidly changed and we were constantly trying to keep up. I aim to help adolescents navigate this period of challenge and growth, managing peer relationships, love, and the balance of childhood and independence.

Childhood is a period of rapid growth and change. Their lives are often in the hands of their parents, which means that life transitions, move, and family dynamics may happen and bring up complex feelings and fear. As a child therapist, my primary goal is to create a safe space for children to explore the world that is moving around them and help them find their unique place in the chaos. My balance of play and talk will help them develop productive ways to express the complex emotions of life.

Eating disorders and related behaviors are about far more than food. Complex feelings of fear, sadness, trauma, and so much more have manifested into something you feel you can control -- the amount of food you allow yourself to have. But do you really feel in control? What is it that is getting in the way of you feeling comfortable in your body? Your eating disorder is far more complex than just eating. Together, we will heal your heart and mind and your relationship with your body and food.

Attachment theory understands emotional and social development through the lens of the parent-child connection in early childhood. The safety of this relationship has profound effects on the individual's growth across the lifespan. I have been trained to utilize this model to better understand how my clients, both children and adults, perceive their place in their relationships and how they understand their own identities.

Play is the language of childhood. Play is used by children to explore their world and find meaning and understanding of the greater, more complex things happening around them. I utilize many forms of creative play to allow the child to use their imagination to play out how they are feeling inside, and together we work to find words to describe these feelings and develop skills to help regulate their emotions thereafter.