Clinical Approach
“A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are made for.” As an adult and as a therapist, I realize with greater appreciation the wisdom of those words. When people find their way to my office, I am aware that they are taking an enormous risk to open up and begin the process of change—in essence leaving their own harbor of safety. I have great admiration and respect for those with whom I have the privilege to work. Knowing that the journey can be uncomfortable and even scary at times, I strive to provide a space that feels safe, compassionate, and respectful.
I have an integrative therapeutic orientation meaning I draw from various approaches in psychology, and strive to be holistic integrating body, mind and spirit as essential components of healing.
I consider myself to be a strength-oriented therapist. I find people tend to be inordinately hard on themselves—quick to note their shortcomings, to assume fault, and to label themselves. Shame, guilt, regret and other difficult emotions result, and if not worked through, inhibit a healthy relationship with self and others. So rather than looking strictly at what is wrong, I invite people to identify their own skills, insights, wisdom and progress. This more honest self-recognition helps to create an inner stability from which other goals in therapy can build.
I also try to help people put their problematic behaviors or unhelpful coping strategies within the context of their own personal story. Often a behavior or coping strategy developes in an effort to survive, protect and comfort, rather than to hurt. This realization helps to relieve shame and to allow the space to make different choices and create new behaviors.
Perhaps you would like to create healthier relationships with others as well as with yourself. It may be that you want to examine longstanding thought patterns or work with emotions that are hard to access or are too overwhelming. Perhaps you hope to become more mindful, to quell fears and to access inner resources. Whatever the course may be, I know that the courageous journey out of the harbor can bear tremendous gifts.
Christy
Clinical Services
- Individual therapy (men, women, adolescents)
- Couples therapy
- Supervision of therapists seeking licensure
- Community outreach and education
Areas of Specialty
- Childhood sexual abuse and trauma
- Partners of sexual abuse survivors
- Rape
- PTSD
- Depression/Anxiety
- Grief and Loss
- Cross cultural adjustment (special area of focus with Asian Indian culture)
- Spirituality/Mindfulness
- EMDR
- Work/Life balance and transitions
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Perinatal issues (pregnancy adjustment, miscarriage/infant loss, postpartum depression, parenting adjustment)
Clinical experience
- Private practice (2017-present)
- Kenfield and Associates (2003-2017)
- The Neighborhood Involvement Program
- The Rape and Sexual Abuse Program
- The Walk in Counseling Center
- Macalester Student Counseling Center
- University of St. Thomas Counseling and Career Services
Education
2003 Ph.D University of Minnesota,
Counseling and Student Personnel Program 
1997 M.A. University of Minnesota,
Counseling and Student Personnel Program
1991 B.A. University of Notre Dame
Publication
Intrapersonal and Familial Effects of Child Sexual Abuse
on Female Partners of Male Survivors.
Journal of Counseling Psychology.
Vol. 52(3). July 2005, pp284-297.