Affirmative Therapy for LGBTQIA+ and Neurodivergent Individuals, Couples and Children
Affordable Psychological and Educational Testing for Children, Teens and Young Adults
Online Telehealth Therapy for California, Arizona and Ohio
Trauma and Anti-Racist Informed
EMDR Certified Therapist
EMDRIA Approved Consultant for EMDR
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About
Christine MacInnis, LMFT
The Full Story
After twenty-five years of working with teens and young adults in a school setting as a school counselor, I am honored to support families struggling with such issues as anxiety, and depression. I also love to educate and support autism and ADHD identities from a neurodiversity-affirming stance. I love helping parents, teens and young adults in high conflict families learn to communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships. I am a very effective mediator and can support both sides equally in family therapy. I also provide therapy for families adjusting to a more affirmative stance on neurodiversity and providing repair and healing of those relationships.
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My passion also lies in helping those in the transgender and gender-expansive community with co-occurring mental health concerns, transition, family education and acceptance building, and referrals to the medical community. Working closely with programs like the Trans-Youth Center for Health and Development at LA Children's Hospital and St. John's Well Child and Family Center's Transgender Health program, I strive to provide needed resources and continuation of care if that need arises. I also volunteer my time to our local South Bay PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Chapter as a facilitator and as a former board member. I am a member of WPATH (World Organization of Transgender Heath) and CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists).
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Lastly, the Covid years have taught all of us more than we ever would have wanted to know about trauma so I decided to become more trauma-informed and dive into the practice of EMDR. It has completely changed my work as a therapist now being trained in a somatic-based, trauma-informed approach that is backed by over 30 years of research. I am a fully certified EMDR practitioner as well as an approved consultant for therapists in training and an approved distance learning provider all through EMDRIA. Here I help clients of all ages process traumas, large and small that are holding them back from living a full life. Read more about it EMDR - CLICK HERE.
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My Approach
​My main tenant is the belief that the client is the expert of their own self and that I am merely the guide. There will be no shame or judgement, simply support. I often use laughter and humor as well as a tool to remind the client not to take themselves so seriously. We will laugh and cry in session a lot!
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My therapeutic style uses person centered and solution focused methods to instill self-understanding among clients and encourage them to learn the best ways for them to react to 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.
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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 listening 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 using my own privilege. My favorite resource for anti-racism training is www.theblackful.com.
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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.
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.