TRANSCENDS FAMILY THERAPY
CHRISTINE MACINNIS, MSEd, MS, LMFT
Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious or depressed? Are you questioning your gender identity or processing through transitioning and looking for an ally in your journey? Or perhaps you're a family member of a transgender individual and looking for support. I am here to help and provide a unique, directive approach to therapy. I specialize in anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, teens, family dysfunction, and gender identity celebration. Recognizing that the pandemic has introduced trauma to all of us in unique ways, I work from a tramua informed lens and am EMDR trained.
As a Certified Affirmative LGBTQ Therapist, I frequently work with the gender expansive population to support them through co-occurring mental health concerns, processing external and internal transphobia. transitioning and the social, emotional and medical components that come along with the process. I also have a passion for couples' work that is not heteronormative in it's approach and address the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual and gender expansive couples in a supportive, affirmative way.
If you are not local to me and are in the state of Arizona or California, I can provide therapy online as well through a HIPPA approved tele-health medium.
Let us transcend life's challenges together!
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind"
William James
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A BIT ABOUT MY APPROACH TO THERAPY
Utilizing Each Client's Strengths
My therapeutic style uses cognitive behavioral and solution focused methods to instill self-understanding among clients and encourage them to adopt new ways of thinking and feeling about life situations. I also work from a trauma informed perspective and utilize neurobiological approaches such as EMDR to heal oneself through the power of your own brain. That's the fancy therapy talk. What it means is that I do not sit back and nod at you; rather I work hard to be with you in the therapy room or online providing active listenting and even gentle challenging you when needed. I use humor. We will laugh, a lot! I will be searching for your strengths and quickly identity those areas where you are excelling and build upon them. For my gender expansive clients, I will also be an affirming ally and a strong advocate for your needs in all areas- social, family, educational, career and medical. My work is also anti-racist informed. By that I mean, I pay black folks who do anti-racism training to continue my education and challenge my privilege. I read extensively and try to advocate as best I can. My favorite resource for anti-racism training is www.theblackful.com.
It is essential to keep in mind that therapy is not a magic pill or a quick fix: therapy is a healing process that necessitates participation and investment from the client and family alike.
But in the end, making small changes to self-defeating behavior and coping with feelings of sadness, fear, and pain can bring life-altering results. I love watching the transformation occur as clients learn to cope with their lives in their own way.
SERVICES I OFFER
With You Every Step of the Way
FAMILY THERAPY
Finding your family is in constant conflict and peace is hard to find? Dealing with an issue with one family member that is affecting the rest? When one person in a family has a concern, the family as a whole often needs treatment. Talking with a licensed professional may be the next step. Hearing all the voices in a family and affirming how they feel in a safe environment, can help heal many wounds. When I work with a teen one on one, i trust that at some point, that the parents are also part of the process and may join in sessions to further our work. For those individuals who are gender non-conforming, family work is an important component to their care and I will request to work with all family members in supporting the client.
COUPLES THERAPY
If you finding you are dissatisfied with the current state of your relationship, therapy may be the answer. I guide my patients every step of the way and implement various methods to help them develop new attitudes towards all of life’s most complex matters. In realtionships where one partner is struggling with their gender identity, couples therapy provides a safe space to explore the changes that may come as a result and how it will affect each person. For relationships that are not heterosexual,I bring a unique affirming approach that recognizes the differences and challenges experienced by gay and lesbian couples. Come to see your partner in a whole new way.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
In our therapy sessions, we’ll work to solve current problems and improve positive cognitions and behavior. I will help you “re-frame” your reactions and provide you with valuable tools to cope with life’s obstacles. If trauma is a real concern, EMDR techniques and parts work will also be intergrated. For those who gender identity is a concern, we will intergrate all areas of your life from work to family and relationships in order to provide relief from dysphoria including medical intervention referrals if needed.
CONTACT ME
22750 Hawthorne Blvd Suite 204
Torrance, Los Angeles County
90505, USA
