As an extrovert, my behaviors and style of communication affirm my belief in establishing rapport and creating trust with clients. I consider helping others in the area of mental health my passion and purpose.

I am Dr. Christina Urcinas Ph.D. I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over a decade of work in national and regional hospital systems, multi-disciplinary long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, and community clinics. I am currently based in Northern Virginia using primarily Cognitive Behavioral Therapy modalities specializing in various mental health concerns including life transitions and mood and anxiety disorders. My approach to therapy provides client-centered, evidence-based psychotherapy to individuals with a broad range of mental health needs. My clinical foundation is based on cognitive-behavioral interventions. I recognize and appreciate the relationship between mental and physical health, the psychological effects of stress and illness on functioning, and the educational and motivational interventions to improve health and maximize functioning. I work with adults experiencing various mental health concerns, including symptoms of depression, panic disorder, generalized and social anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, adjustment, and self-esteem issues, women's issues, caregivers, and other stress. I am collaborative with clients to help them develop the tools, resources, motivation, and perseverance needed to reclaim their lives and develop meaningful self-determined roles in the community. I have found my communication style is a good fit for adults who appreciate direct and thoughtful communication. I strive to create a safe environment for individuals to share and learn in order to chart a path forward. We can't change our past but I believe we have the power to ensure we live our best present and future. The ability to assist an individual on this journey and ultimately witness the re-discovery of oneself is an honor and drives me to this work. My approach to goal setting with clients is all about working together to define what you want to realistically accomplish in our time together. Over time, we will work together to set goals and track your progress. What you can expect from our first session together is for us to spend the majority of our time talking about how you have been feeling recently, and me asking questions to better understand some of why you may be feeling that way. The first session is about us building an initial connection and helping me get a sense of where we should go from there.

Having worked for the past 30+ years in many facets of the behavioral health and drug and alcohol field, I strongly believe that successful treatment begins with the development of a strong therapeutic relationship. By providing a safe, trusting and open environment, I offer you the opportunity to express yourself in your unique way and work with you through understanding and support, utilizing your strengths as building blocks. Positive change occurs only when the therapeutic approach is tailored to meet the needs of the person and I utilize evidence based approaches to help you meet your goals. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I work exclusively with an adult population providing individual, marital/relationship and family therapy to individuals in Nanticoke, PA and the surrounding area. I look forward to hearing from you and will gladly answer any questions you may have about my experience, expertise and approach. Your improved well-being and quality of life is my goal for you.

You are worthy of healing, even when your inner-critic says otherwise. If you are experiencing anxiety, you know that it is much more complex than excessive worrying. Often negative self-talk, guilt, self-doubt, and fear also run rampant, making it difficult to get through your day. On the outside, your loved ones or colleagues may think you have it together, but internally you are struggling. Trying to control everything around you - while at the same time feeling out of control leaves you exhausted and on edge. I help clients heal by reducing anxiety and restoring self-worth. When you work with me, we will uncover your strengths, process past wounds, and enhance your coping skills. I empower all clients’ growth by using a culturally-affirming, strengths-based approach. Modalities include CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic Therapy. With me, you will get an inclusive space to grow, heal, and practice self-compassion. You don’t have to deal with anxiety on your own. I’m here to help.

I believe in meeting each client where they are. There is not one way to help someone resolve a problem in their life. I believe in helping my clients find the right path that works for them and following along beside them to provide wisdom in their lives to take the next steps and make better choices. A mental health professional should go above and beyond for their clients and I believe in this whole heartedly. My motto is "get me in your life and out of your life quickly so that you can live happy!"

Are you stuck in a painful relationship? Are you suffering from anxiety? Or do you feel your life isn't going the way you want it to? With cognitive behavorial therapy you can learn to have more meaningful relationships, manage anxiety and enjoy a more fullfillng life. I use a psychoeducational format in which I teach you skills to become your own best emotional coach. I will help you learn to understand and feel better about yourself, better about your life. With this self-awareness and skills developed in therapy you will be able to implement healthier behaviors and realize more positive ways of living.

Relationships are an essential part of our existence as humans. Whether it’s friendship, romance, or family that’s causing you to question yourself, experience anxiety, or feel overwhelmed, it’s important to ask intentional questions and find meaning in the experience. This is where I come in. I believe that the connection we forge as client and therapist is a powerful tool in achieving your goals. I want to hear everything you have to tell me, and will offer an open, unbiased, nonjudgmental presence to help you heal. I have experience working with women living through anxiety and grief. The meaning we make of events determines our perspective. It doesn’t matter how momentous or insignificant the things we’re wrestling with seem - they can still have a tremendous impact on our understanding of ourselves and the world. My goal is to help you sift through the thoughts and feelings you have so that you can keep what is helpful and discard what is not. We’ll be examining unhelpful beliefs, critical thoughts, or unrealistic expectations. This deep, purposeful work will help you shape the meaning of your life. My job is not to fix you or load you up with advice. I let you bring whatever is concerning you to our sessions. Through various techniques like mindfulness, thought-challenging, and building awareness of your emotions you’ll learn how to cope with the things that are overwhelming you. Often we react - and it's unhelpful. I'll work to help you create a space within yourself to choose a response that's helpful. I will gently guide you through the tough experiences you are having by equipping you to face them while reserving the space you need to process them.

I have experience and a passion for working with clients through a faith-based lens, including Christian counseling, healing from spiritual trauma, or deconstruction. I also enjoy working with clients living with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, body image, self-esteem struggles, relationship or workplace difficulties, and those walking through grief. I have worked in various settings, from helping students better learn when addressing their emotional needs to providing family reunification services to people who have been formerly incarcerated.

Sometimes life can get overwhelming, and we need a little help navigating the journey we are on. As a military spouse, I can empathize with just how chaotic and challenging life can be at times. We all have stories and experiences that make us unique. I enjoy helping others navigate their story by coming alongside them to encourage their strengths and share new skills through a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach. I am always honored to walk with others on that journey for however long we work together, collaborating to find the skills, techniques, and solutions that work best for you, both in and outside of session.

**I have a limited number of in-person and telehealth sessions available. Please contact me to see if I am a good match and our schedules align.** My initial goal in therapy is to deeply understand the unique individual sitting across from me. I take a holistic approach to this task. I understand that the mind, body, spirit, and relationships are all connected and impacted by one another. I think of my clients as more than just a collection of problems and diagnoses. I want to understand your strengths and talents as well as your struggles and areas for growth. I also want to understand where you have come from and where you would like to go. As we better understand how your life story impacts your current feelings, motivations, and relationships, you will likely experience increased self-acceptance and the ability to make to make better decisions about your future. Intellectual insight alone, although useful, is often not enough to allow clients to fully make the kinds of life changes that they desire. Consequently, I also utilize methods from more action-oriented approaches to therapy that focus on obtaining new skills and practicing new behaviors. These skills are often focused on learning new ways of managing difficult feelings and improving communication and intimacy in relationships. I believe that a therapist and client should work together as a team. I will bring my energy, experience, and compassion to the therapeutic relationship. I ask you for openness, honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment with new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. My goal is to work with you to help you achieve a greater sense of happiness, peace, integrity, and satisfaction in your life.

From years of experience, I can help my clients see what they cannot see. Light bulbs go off and clients open up to new possibilities, self discovery, and hope. I use both short term and longer term psychotherapy in order to provide more choice for my clients. I see children and adults up to age 85. I do therapy with parents and children, adolescents, individuals with depression or anxiety, and especially people going through stressful transitions. I focus on good relationships within families and within individuals (ie. How we relate to ourselves). When someone comes to see me they can expect that I will listen deeply to what they say and feel, to what they want to work on, and then work together to find solutions. I currently offer telemental health services only. I prefer phone, but Zoom and Facetime are optional.

David Sternberg, LICSW, has been a practicing psychotherapist in Washington, D.C., since 2002. He specializes in treating young adults (20s and 30s), who are experiencing anxiety, depression and stress related to major life transitions. At DC Talk Therapy, all 10 of our therapists specialize in working with young adults (20s and 30s) with anxiety, depression and relationship problems. In our practice, we have a substance abuse specialist, an OCD specialist and a therapist who works with the LGBTQ community. Since we opened our practice in Washington, D.C., in 2012, we've helped nearly 2,000 people live happier and more fulfilling lives. Our therapists use a variety of therapeutic approaches but primarily use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on modifying maladaptive or distorted thoughts about ourselves or the rest of the world as a way to change resulting feelings and behavior. Our therapists believe that psychotherapy can be tremendously rewarding, even life-changing. We see therapy as very much a collaborative process, so we ask clients for feedback throughout the process. We want the client's experience to be as valuable as possible. Our office staff answers the phone live Monday through Friday 9 am-5 pm and they can often schedule you an appointment within 2-3 business days.