Therapy for Teens and Adults near Arcadia | Counselor Cristina Lugo
Arcadia is a place many people associate with balance, but life here can still feel anything but steady when you are carrying too much. From my Pasadena office, I work with teens and young adults who are tired of holding everything together while feeling lost inside. My approach is warm, trauma informed, and inclusive. I bring creativity, cultural awareness, and more than fourteen years of experience into every session so you can begin to feel understood and supported in ways that truly matter.
How it works
Book an intro call
When we first meet, I focus on giving you the experience of being heard without judgment. We will talk about your daily life, what feels heavy right now, and what you hope might change. You do not need to tell me everything all at once. The first step is simply creating a safe place where you can start to relax and notice what it is like to have support.
Personalized, one-on-one sessions
I see therapy as a collaborative process. Instead of giving you a fixed plan, I work with you to identify what you want to move toward. Some weeks you may need to process emotions, and others you may want concrete strategies. I will adapt our work so it matches your pace and your goals. This way therapy stays alive and useful rather than rigid.
Evidence-based therapeutic techniques
I draw on approaches that are grounded in research and practice while leaving room for flexibility. EMDR helps with trauma, mindfulness supports emotional balance, and somatic work reconnects you to your body. I often bring in creative reflection as well, so you have both solid tools and imaginative ways of exploring your growth.
Explore my therapy services and specializations
Individual Therapy for Teens and Adults
LEARN MOREIn one-to-one sessions, I create a grounded, compassionate space where you can speak honestly and begin to unpack what has felt confusing or heavy. Whether you're navigating identity shifts, relationship stress, or past emotional wounds, we will work together to understand your patterns and support your growth. Using tools from evidence-based therapies, we'll build emotional resilience, reduce daily stress, and create habits that help you feel more present and aligned in your everyday life.
Group Therapy for Teens
LEARN MOREBeing a teen can feel like you're living in a different world than the adults around you and like no one truly gets it. Group therapy provides a safe and welcoming space for teen girls and nonbinary youth to connect, feel seen, and practice expressing themselves authentically. In this supportive circle, we talk about anxiety, identity, relationships, school pressure, and burnout while learning to communicate more openly, build emotional awareness, and support one another in real time.
EMDR Therapist
LEARN MORESome memories don’t just fade with time; they linger in your body, your reactions, and your self-perception. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful therapy that helps your brain reprocess difficult or traumatic experiences, so they stop holding emotional power over your present life. Whether you're struggling with big-T trauma or smaller yet significant moments that left a mark, EMDR offers a path to healing, calm, and renewed self-trust.
Anxiety Therapy
LEARN MOREAnxiety can show up in different ways: racing thoughts, tightness in your chest, difficulty focusing, or a constant feeling that something’s wrong. In therapy, we create a space to slow down, explore the roots of your anxiety, and learn strategies that actually work for your mind and body. You'll practice calming your nervous system, identifying your personal triggers, and learning how to respond with more intention and confidence—even when life feels overwhelming.
Therapy for Teenage Depression
LEARN MORETeen depression often hides behind irritability, isolation, or feeling like nothing matters. In therapy, I help teens put words to what they’re feeling even when it’s hard to name and support them in finding small moments of hope. Together, we build emotional vocabulary, create healthy coping tools, and start to rediscover energy, connection, and a sense of meaning in daily life.
Academic Burnout
LEARN MOREThe pressure to excel whether it comes from school, family, or yourself can leave you feeling numb, exhausted, and disconnected from your goals. I support teens and young adults in recognizing the signs of burnout early, rethinking their relationship with achievement, and reclaiming a more balanced and joyful approach to learning. Therapy offers space to validate your experience and reimagine success in a way that supports your mental health.Teen depression often hides behind irritability, isolation, or feeling like nothing matters. In therapy, I help teens put words to what they’re feeling even when it’s hard to name and support them in finding small moments of hope. Together, we build emotional vocabulary, create healthy coping tools, and start to rediscover energy, connection, and a sense of meaning in daily life.
Post-Grad Depression
LEARN MOREGraduating is supposed to be exciting, but it can also bring a sense of loss, disorientation, or dread about the future. Post-grad depression is real, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. In therapy, we process your experience, explore the expectations placed on you (by others and yourself), and begin to design a post-grad life that feels authentic and fulfilling, not just impressive on paper.
Teenage Trauma
LEARN MOREWhen teens experience trauma whether it's a single event or ongoing emotional pain it can shape how they see themselves, others, and the world. In our sessions, I use trauma-informed care to help teens process what happened, reduce the emotional reactivity that follows, and rebuild a sense of safety and trust in themselves. Healing doesn't mean forgetting it means learning how to carry your story with strength and self-compassion.
I serve teens and adults near Arcadia
My practice welcomes clients from Arcadia. Whether you are a high school student overwhelmed by schoolwork, a college graduate navigating early adulthood, or a parent hoping to support your teen, therapy is accessible to you right here in your neighborhood. My office is located in Pasadena, just 14 minutes by car from Arcadia, making it convenient if you live nearby. I also offer virtual sessions for clients who prefer that format or cannot commute regularly.

Hello, I am Cristina Lugo | Therapist for Teens and Adults near Arcadia
My practice welcomes clients from Arcadia. Whether you are a high school student overwhelmed by schoolwork, a college graduate navigating early adulthood, or a parent hoping to support your teen, therapy is accessible to you right here in your neighborhood. My office is located in Pasadena, just 14 minutes by car from Arcadia, making it convenient if you live nearby. I also offer virtual sessions for clients who prefer that format or cannot commute regularly.
FAQ about my counseling services
What is the best type of therapy for young adults and teenagers?
The best therapy is the one that meets a teen or young adult exactly where they are. Trauma-informed care, EMDR, ACT, body-based practices, and creative expression all help. What makes therapy effective is not the label but the way it adapts to their unique story and identity.
Do you offer therapy in person? What about virtual? Which one is better?
I believe in-person therapy creates richer connection, which is why I welcome clients at my Pasadena office. If you live near Arcadia, it’s just a short drive and offers the benefit of a calm, private space to focus on your healing. Virtual sessions are also available for convenience, so you can choose the format that best fits your needs.
Do you take insurance?
I am out-of-network. Many PPOs reimburse partially for therapy. I provide superbills for you to submit, and your insurance pays you directly.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please give 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. If you cancel late and we cannot reschedule, the full fee applies.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
Yes. I am committed to making therapy as accessible as possible. If you’ve been affected by circumstances such as the Eaton Fire, ICE raids, or other hardships, please let me know. We can work together to find a rate that allows you to receive consistent care. Clients who are able to pay my full fee help sustain this community-based offering, and I’m deeply grateful for their support.