Meet Christina
A little about me:
Hi, I’m Christina! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist born and raised in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have been working with children, teens, adults and families for over a decade. I’ve worn lots of different professional hats including reproductive health specialist, trainer, therapist, group facilitator and school counselor. I’m also a mother of two beautiful boys so I’ll also add Chief Home Officer, baby wrangler, chef/snack dispenser, event coordinator, sibling referee, magic maker, first aid/booboo kisser and family photographer to my job title as well.
Becoming and being a mom has fundamentally changed my life both personally and professionally. While maternal health has always been a passion of mine, it was through my own experience in becoming a mother that awakened in me a new found dedication and calling for helping others in their reproductive and parenting journey.
What I realized in motherhood:
Becoming a parent has taught me so much about myself and how I help support moms. Here are my big takeaways from my experience:
There is no such thing as a perfect parent. Kids don’t keep perfection – they just need YOU!
What they really need most is you - your perfectly, imperfect flawed self. As a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist, this one has been a hard one to learn and practice. We all want to do right by our kids and it’s easy to convince ourselves that we must be perfect, do it all “right” and be an all-consuming, invested parent. The reality is, we are humans and that doesn't stop when we become a parent. Mistakes, missteps, or ruptures as we refer to them in psychology, are a part of life and parenting. In fact, they help grow and strengthen attachment when we can acknowledge, address and repair with our children. More on this another time but repeat after me - you don’t need to be perfect. You are enough just as you are!
Self-care is not selfish - it’s a vital part of maintaining health and wellness
Self- care is anything but selfish. Motherhood is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to pace ourselves, rest, and sometimes (oftentimes) that means putting our needs first. I know, I know - that feels haaaaaard, especially when it’s not what was modeled to you or how you are used to showing up. It doesn't help that often societal and cultural expectations reinforce the idea that a “good mother” is selfless and all giving. Let’s break that down. The definition of selflessness is defined by Merriam-Webster as “having no concern for self, unselfish”. That is not the message that I want to give to my children - that their needs, wants, desires don’t matter or matter less than others. So while it at times feels uncomfortable, I’m trying to model showing up and choosing me just as I do for others.
We can’t do it all alone - we need help and support
Moms aren’t supposed to do this alone! We need help and asking/receiving it isn’t an indication that you aren't doing a good job. You are! There is just far too much to manage. I don’t know where I would be without my village of support - family, friends, caring professionals, childcare providers, my moms club, housecleaner, even the kind grocery worker who helped me load my car this morning. The best advice I can give is to say yes to any and all support. People want to help and support you!
I love working with and supporting women and growing families during this uniquely transformative time of life. Please reach out if you’d like to schedule a free consultation to learn how I can support you during this transition.