Finding a therapist can be overwhelming, especially if you’re already working on feeling better. Maybe you’ve met with people who made this work more difficult for you.
Sometimes the stress and frustration can feel so big, the idea of opening it up for someone new can feel like too much. I want you to know that therapy with me is a non judgemental space where I can join you as a collaborator in navigating your
real life.
I get it, because my own journey through healing made me realize I wanted to become a therapist when I was 18. I tried therapy, I opened up, poured my heart out and walked away feeling like I was talking to a wall.
What I needed wasn’t silence or vague nods. I needed someone engaged. Someone who could help me make sense of what I was feeling without judgment or shame.
I didn’t want answers handed to me, I wanted a collaborator. An adult who actually saw me and believed in the kind of life I was trying to build.
Once I got to college, I knew I would become the therapist I never had. One who shows up with warmth, honesty, and a real investment in healing.
In our space you can stop…
❋ Feeling ashamed because you believe that you should already have it all figured out. Or believing that everyone else your age is doing okay and you’re falling behind.
❋ Hiding important parts of your identity such as your sexuality, gender identity, ethnic background, neuro-differences, subculture life and the things that make you happy
Your journey through life is unique and
we are all
being told to feel ashamed of parts of ourselves that don’t “fit”. With more self-compassion and understanding, our uniqueness can become our super power.
This is the space you need to reclaim your inner wisdom, process what’s weighing you down, and build a life that you actually want: rich, meaningful, and aligned with who you are becoming.
And guess what? My unconventional therapy style isn’t just talk therapy…
I bring a mix of EMDR, mindfulness, body-based tools, and creative arts into the room. We might breathe, move, paint, or use grounding tools, whatever helps you access what words alone can’t reach.
All of it is grounded in deep respect for your lived experience, culture, and the life you want to build.
I’m Cristina Lugo, LCSW
Hey there
Licensed therapist and local go-to for supporting young adults and teenage girls
I’ve been helping people like you over the past 15 years and I’m passionate about helping teens, young adults and families feel more connected and aligned with the lives they truly want.
I believe that community empowers and heals
For the first decade of my career, I focused on public mental health. I received my clinical training responding to crisis calls at crime scenes and supporting young people in play and art therapy sessions afterwards.
After becoming licensed, I continued as a community-based therapist. I met with teens in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods. I also worked in Spanish, supporting their parents who had immigrated from Latin America.
Eventually, I worked with unhoused and severely mentally ill young adults. In 2020, I transitioned to a group private practice in Pasadena where I tightened my niche working with teenage girls and 20’s & 30’s adults.
Why I started Cristina Lugo Psychotherapy
In 2025, I opened this practice out of my loyalty to my clients and desire to provide private services without third parties. I believe in sustainable healing practices where both client and therapist feel supported. I remain committed to professional collaboration and work closely with colleagues, consultants and wellness providers to bring my clients the resources and support they deserve. Along with my close colleagues, I co-founded
The Playhouse Collective.
A little more about me
When I finished graduate school in 2010, I began a simultaneous journey in grassroots community organizing. As long as I’ve been a therapist, I have also been helping build and strengthen spaces for connection and empowerment in my various communities. The causes I have supported vary, but my central mission has been to support collective liberation against the forces of oppression. I'm also proud to be a second-generation Puerto Rican and feel that this background shaped me profoundly.
I also have some non-workish hobbies! I am passionate about outdoor activities like cycling, hiking, exploration and wellness. I am constantly inspired by all forms of arts and culture. I also have a little pottery practice on the side ;)
Qualifications
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (#71254) - 2014
Certified Expressive Arts Practitioner - 2015
EMDR Certified Therapist™ - 2025
Selected trainings
The Integrated IFS & EMDR Model Level 1 by Kendhal Hart
Practicing the Heart of ACT with Dr. Robyn Walser
ACT and EMDR: Integrating Trauma Techniques with Toni Didona, PhD
ACT for Beginners with Dr. Russ Harris
EMDR Basic Training Level 1 & Level 2 & 20 hours of certification consultation with Larisa Traga, LCSW
Expressive Arts Certificate Program with Dr. Jane Goldberg.
Education
Bachelors of Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University
Masters of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University
And BTW, this is the cute little corner of Pasadena where we’ll meet
Welcome to your calming, cozy space filled with light, plants, and small things that make a big difference. Whether we’re using art materials, sipping tea, or using my light bar for an EMDR session, you’ll love in-person therapy.
