find clarity and embrace who you’re meant to be
Meet Christine,
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist in Philadelphia
Holistic therapy for LGBTQ and transgender individuals. Specializing in disordered eating, body image, and identity-related concerns.
Providing services for over 15 years in Philadelphia & online across PA | Certified Eating Disorders Specialist | Board-Certified Art Therapist | IFS Level 1
I want you to hear this
Your body does not define your worth.
Together, let’s build the confidence you need to truly believe that.
That voice in your head that keeps saying you’re not good enough is constantly running in the background, but the things it's saying aren’t the absolute truth. There is another voice underneath it that wants to be heard, but your inner critic is getting in the way of accessing that part of you.
Perhaps you’re even aware of this critical voice, and maybe it’s protecting you from something deeper. By getting to know your inner critic, you can understand why it’s there in the first place and heal the pain underneath it.
Compassionate and creative therapy with someone who truly gets it.
My advanced training in eating disorders and trauma means I have the expertise you need and deserve when finding peace and acceptance towards your body and yourself.
But at the end of the day, you want to know you’re working with someone who understands what it’s like to be a queer person struggling with food and body image issues, right?
I get it, I’ve been there too. Healing my own relationship with food didn’t happen until I understood how diet culture was affecting me. Intuitive eating and Health at Every Size were game changers for me.
So when we work together, you won’t just get a trained therapist. You’ll get someone who understands the ups and downs of this journey, and knows firsthand how good life can be on the other side of it.
As a queer cis woman, married to a trans woman, I have devoted my career to helping LGBTQ and transgender communities.
While I’ll never fully know what it’s like to walk in your shoes, I am here to listen with curiousity, and am committed to creating a space that is affirming to who you are.
Hi I’m Christine (She/Her),
I believe that real change happens when we recognize the impact that diet culture has on our well-being.
If you've felt like you can't win when it comes to your body, you're not alone in that anymore, and you don't have to keep playing the game. Together, we’ll identify the messages you’ve absorbed about how you should look and who you’re supposed to be. Each week, we’ll explore how those beliefs shape your relationship with food, your body, and your sense of self in the world.
My therapy approach helps you go beyond your analytical brain so you can connect to your emotions in a deeper way. As a trained art therapist, I use an Internal Family Systems model to help you explore the different sides of your personality. That means we’ll use simple art exercises and activities (don’t worry you don’t have to be a good artist to participate in this) to uncover parts of you that cling to old habits and how those parts are trying to protect you. From there, you’ll learn new ways of self-care that are true to who you are, instead of what the world expects you to be
Progress doesn’t need to be all or nothing. I’ll help you make gradual, meaningful changes that fit your life and are sustainable.
What it’s really like to work with me
Our sessions are a calm space where you can share your full self, without worrying about being judged.
As a Licensed Therapist with over 15 years in practice, I bring a warm and grounding presence to our work together.
I show up as a real human—which means I’ll crack the occasional joke, vibe with that TV show you’re watching, and celebrate your wins. Our work will be deep and meaningful, but always down-to-earth. No therapy jargon here.
I’m not here to fix you and I’m not going to tell you what to do. This will most definitely be annoying at times, but it’s also where real change happens. Because figuring it out for yourself builds lasting confidence and self-trust.
In our sessions, you’ll learn how to stay with your feelings instead of pushing them down. And the patterns that show up between us offer real clues about what’s happening in your life, and what might need to change.
I’m known for asking thoughtful, sometimes challenging questions—with the occasional truth bomb.
I won’t shy away from conversations around race, gender, or fatphobia, and I’ll hold you accountable with care. The path to change can be messy, but that discomfort will help you break old patterns that are no longer serving you. It’s a process, and while it’s not always easy, healing is possible and I’ll be alongside you on this journey.
My guiding principles
Weight Inclusive Care
I practice from a Health at Every Size and anti-diet framework. I celebrate size-diversity and don’t use weight loss nor dieting as a therapy approach.
Identity Affirming
My practice offers queer and trans-centered care. I do my best to remain open to your unique experiences and educate myself on common themes and struggles you may face.
Relationships Are Healing
I believe we can truly heal in safe and trusting relationships. I provide compassion and honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable. If my words cause harm, I take ownership and offer a chance to repair that rupture.
Collaboration
Therapy is a partnership where we both work together towards your goals. We’ll take things one step at a time in a way that actually works for you.
Intersectionality
Race, skin color, gender and sexuality influence how we move through the world. I bring awareness to how our overlapping identities show up in the therapy room.
Experiential
As a trained art therapist, I use creative and body-based approaches that engage your senses, and help you connect to your feelings in a deeper way.
My background
-
Advanced Trainings
IFS
IFS Level 1, IFS Institute
IFS Online Circle, IFS Institute
Tristate Eating Disorder Conference: Internal Family Systems and Eating Disorders- National Alliance for Eating Disorders
IFS and Creative Arts Therapy: Externalizing Strategies to Reduce Dysregulation and Dissociation – Expressive Therapies Summit
Resilience, Post-traumatic Growth, and Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy - Trauma- Informed Practices and Expressive Art Therapy Institute
OCD
Exposure and Response Therapy for OCD - Cognitive Behavior Institute
Understanding and Treating Contamination OCD, NOCD
Matching OCD Severity with the Right Level of Care, Newport Healthcare
Gender Affirming Therapy
Gender Dysphoria and Eating Disorders – Monarch Wellness and Psychotherapy
Certificate in Advanced Training in Affirmative Therapy for Transgender Communities, Widener University, 2021
Certifications
Registered and Board-Certified Art Therapist - # 13-271 | American Art Therapy Association, 2014
Verify Art Therapy Registration
Verify Art Therapy Board Certification
Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, The Original Intuitive Eating Pros, 2021
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, IAEDP Foundation
-
Drexel University - M.A. in Art Therapy, 2011
Licensed Professional Counselor in PA - #PC008568 | Verify License
-
American Art Therapy Association
International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals
National Eating Disorders Association
-
I wear many hats: queer, neurodivergent, artist, mom, elder-millenial
Favorite Take-Out: Indian Food
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Favorite sitcom: Never Have I Ever
Go-to coffee order: Vietnamese latte from Herman’s Coffee
Band I’m currently into: Ginger Root
Video game that took over my life: Animal Crossings New Horizon
Favorite art supply: Watercolor crayons
Backstreet Boys or N’Sync: Backstreet Boys
Self-care routine: Sheet face masks
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Book Genre on Repeat: Queer romance and mystery novels
You deserve more than just getting through the day.