HopeWorks Family Counseling

Are you a people pleaser who wants to break the chains of self-doubt and overthinking? A typical day may consist of waking up, getting your kids to school on time, possibly having a chance to shower and maybe eat a small bite before heading to the office to tackle the day or diving in to work at home which seems to somehow never end. You want to be a super hero for everyone you love. Every day is spent with requests or demands from partners, kids, bosses, family, friends. You hope you will get it all in before it's dinner and would love to have a minute to shower or relax before the bedtime routine starts. By the time the house is quiet you are so tired you crash, without a minute to yourself, knowing as you doze off that you will be doing it all again the next day. In the back of your mind, spending time with your partner would benefit your relationship but you are just so tired. You feel overwhelmed, frustrated, guilty for not getting everything done for those who need you. At times maybe even a little resentful, which makes the guilt even more intense. You feel you need a change but don't know what or where to start. If this sounds familiar, you have landed on the right website. My name is Cristina, and I decided to become a therapist in my mid-30s after surviving a major life change. Therapy provided me with a safe space to feel angry, sad, hopeful and everything in between during the journey into my unknown. It was scary. Therapy lit the path I knew I had to take in order to find a new, healthier version of myself. My over caretaking led to intense feelings of anxiety, fear, overwhelm, frustration, guilt, resentment and sadness. I realized through therapy that what I was experiencing was the result of codependency, something I knew nothing about at the start of my journey. As a woman now in my early 40s (!), and mother of 3 with a blended family, I have extensive experience with codependency recovery, narcissism and narcissistic abuse in relationships, parenting while healing, and now being the best mother, therapist, partner and woman I can be. I bring empathy and compassion to all of my clients. I specialize in working with individuals who are victims of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse. I work with clients who, even if they have not experienced these types of abuse, continue to live in a codependent cycle, sometimes without even knowing it. If you feel you are riding a merry-go-round in life and need a safe space to let go of the reigns, I am here to help. I am currently Telehealth only and can work with anyone who lives in California. Telehealth is a powerful tool. I have had many moving therapy sessions and have witnessed true growth in my clients through video sessions. I am confident in my ability to use this platform and I believe it supports real, therapeutic change. I look forward to speaking with you and walking with you as you navigate your personal path to healing.