Meet Christiana
Expert Care Rooted in Trauma-Informed and LGBTQIA+ Affirming Practices
Christiana Vickrey, LMFTA
- Modalities: EFT, CBT, IFS, Mindfulness-Based, Solution-Focused, Person-Centered
- Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them
- State Practicing In: CT
Life can be filled with many beautiful experiences, but hardships, transitions of all kinds, and our past can take us off track from where we would like to be. Becoming aware of who and where we are while feeling confident can take time and space to process. Sometimes people don’t have safe spaces to explore their inner selves without judgment. I’m here to build connections while providing a safe space to navigate the things that are hard to get through alone. With time, trust, and some hard work, those hardships can become less of a barrier and more of a path forward while using skills learned together to experience more of the life you want to live.
My work is grounded in Rational-Cultural Therapy, which emphasizes the importance of the relationship between therapist and client as an essential part of the therapeutic process. I firmly believe you are the expert in your own life. Rather than being an authority in the room, I see my role as a collaborator in helping you achieve your therapy goals. I approach therapy as a team effort grounded in trauma-informed, sex-positive, and feminist ideals. My therapy practice is eclectic, borrowing from multiple modalities in order to find the best approach for each individual client, couple, or polycule. Common approaches I incorporate include: EFT (Emotionally-Focused therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), IFS (Internal Family Systems), Person-Centered, Solution-Focused, and Mindfulness-Based practices. If you are curious to start the journey to making meaningful changes in your life please reach out. You’re not in this alone!
Christiana’s focus areas
Relationship Diversity:| I believe relationships exist on a spectrum. I recognize that love, sex, and connection can take many forms and that a one-size-fits-all approach does not consider everyone. I am comfortable and confident working with all orientations of relationships (ethical non-monogamy [ENM], polyamory, etc.) and to provide a safe and inviting space to discuss your well-being in these dynamics. I am also here to provide the space for your curiosity in wanting to explore these diverse relationship styles if you have not yet experienced them and want to take the next step.
Gender & Identity/ LGBTQIA2S+| As a queer woman, I am intent on providing care and support to the LGBTQIA2S+ community. How we identify and feel in our bodies correlates with self-esteem and how we interact with the world around us. I bring an authentic approach and level of understanding to provide a safe space to discover more of what makes you your most authentic self.
Emerging Adulthood/College Students:| Whether you are heading off to college or already in college, or choosing the next step in life after grade school, there is a big world out there to discover, and can be challenging without support to guide you. There can be comfort in the structure that high school or living at home brought, but now you might be living far from home or in a dorm and unsure how to navigate this new structure. We can process how that change has impacted you and how you’d like to move forward in a way that gives you more control and autonomy over your life.
Christiana’s ideal client
My ideal client is willing to make an effort to show up for their well-being and be open and honest with themselves and me so we can build a trusting foundation to be able to handle life’s challenges and uncertainties with compassion and curiosity. It will take more than just showing up for sessions on a routine basis. It’s the work that’s put in between sessions that will reinforce what we discuss. I do not have expectations that my clients will change overnight, but there needs to be determination to keep moving forward to be able to see the progress unfold over time.
What kind of therapy does Christiana provide?
Individual therapy for those who are age 18 or older
Couples/partner therapy for those who are age 18 or older
Practice Locations
Connecticut: Christiana is currently only providing tele-health appointments anywhere in the state of Connecticut.
Qualifications:
Christiana graduated in 2020 with her degree in Marriage and Family therapy from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). The program emphasized systemic thinking about how each individual person is made up of and influenced by their relationships and surroundings and not just a linear being. Working with families, there would never be one person with “the problem,” but rather “the problem” is contributed to by all individuals in some way. It takes the pressure off any individual family member and helps them understand that how they function directly correlates to the systems they exist in, and that everyone plays a role. Christiana’s clinical experience during her studies consisted of working for the Ana Grace Project where she worked in the New Britain Public School system implementing a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum in classrooms. Christiana would implement different mindfulness-based techniques and teach children about self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills. She also provided weekly groups for children who needed more support and spaces to connect with peers in a therapeutic setting. After working in the school systems, Christiana joined The Bridge Family Center in West Hartford, CT, is a community mental health organization, as their clinical intern working with children and families and individuals ranging from 4 years old to 60+. I conducted intakes and took on clients with a variety of needs and life experiences. Prior to getting her master’s, Christiana got her degree in Elementary Education at CCSU and worked as a first grade teacher and supporting teacher for the 4th and 5th grade teachers in the school she worked at. Christiana also spent summers as a paraprofessional providing 1-1 care for students on the autism spectrum.
Education
2020 | Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy | Central Connecticut State University
2016 | Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education | Central Connecticut State University
Personal Information
I live in central Connecticut with my 17-year-old cat Ringo who is still full of energy but mainly loves her naps in the window sill when the sun is shining. I am an avid outdoors lady and love to find new mountains and trails to explore or find a nice quiet place to set up my hammock with a book. I am very passionate about food and cooking as someone who comes from a line of excellent home chefs and farmers. Bringing friends together over comfort meals and good conversation fills my heart with so much joy!
Ready to book an appointment with Christina?
