Individual Therapy for Teens and Adults in Pasadena and Surrounding Areas
For teen girls and young adults who are doing their best in a challenging world
You’re showing up, staying busy, working hard at school and yet you still feel anxious, disconnected and unsure of where you’re headed. Therapy can help you sort through the pressure, unpack what’s weighing you down, and start building a life that feels like yours, not just what’s expected.
Planning your future and finding your place in the world can feel like a lot…
You seem to have it together but deep down you are hiding depression, dread and suffering that you can’t shake
You want healthy, meaningful relationships but feel stuck in old patterns or stories from your past.
You’re carrying emotional pain or trauma that you’ve never fully had space to unpack.
You’re struggling in school and are terrified of failure. You have tried to organize school and life but it’s all feeling messy- and embarrassing.
And it’s pretty normal to constantly keep your feelings to yourself, because deep down you don’t want others to think “you’re a lot” or you lack direction …
But trying to control life feels like chaos, you’re anxious about adult life, high rent, low pay, flaky friends, dating...
And you stay up at night thinking, is this how real adult life is supposed to be? How am I supposed to feel okay when this is just... impossible.
You’ve wondered if maybe you’re just not cut out for this but you’re wrong!
You’re not the problem. You’re responding to real pain, broken systems, inequality and generational cycles that haven’t been unpacked and understood.
It makes sense that you’ve been doing what you can to get by. And it’s okay if you haven’t had the space, time, or tools to fully focus on healing until now.
When you give yourself the space to speak your truth and align your vision for your future you go from…
Overthinking every decision → To trusting yourself and your intuition with confidence
Feeling stuck between your family’s expectations and your own dreams → To creating a life that honors both your roots
and your growth
Performing perfection on the outside → To feeling genuinely calm and grounded on the inside.
Being the emotional translator for everyone else → To finally having space to focus on
you.
You don’t have to stay in survival mode. Real change is possible and it starts with showing up as you are.
That’s exactly what therapy with me can do for you:
To help you make sense of your emotions, feel more understanding towards yourself, and clarity about your life path.
In our sessions, you’ll have a space that’s yours to be real, messy, curious, and honest. Together, we’ll work through what’s been weighing you down so you can feel more confident in who you are, build stronger relationships, and finally start to feel like yourself again.
Here’s how it works
01
Our first session together is called the intake session
It’s a little longer than our regular 50 minute sessions so we have more time to get to know each other and talk about what brings you to therapy. I will ask you questions about your life, school, work, friends, history and more. There’s no pressure to share any of the really hard stuff on the first day, I just want to get an initial picture of who you are and what you are needing support with. If you’re a minor, I usually have one parent join us for the first 10 or 15 minutes of the intake so we can all talk together about how I will work to help you and introduce myself to your parent too. Then I will meet one on one with you for the rest of the time and for future sessions as well.
02
Together we’ll create a personalized treatment plan with your therapy goals.
The plan will include goals and tools such as EMDR, art, talk therapy or mindfulness. These goals are completely up to you and can be changed at any time. We will both keep your goals in mind as we meet together so we can stay on track.
03
Week by week, we’ll work through what’s been holding you back
So you can feel calmer, more confident, and more like you. Whether it’s navigating friendships, family, anxiety, or big emotions, you’ll build real skills to handle it all.
Hi, I’m Cristina Lugo, LCSW therapist in Pasadena, California
I’ve spent 15 years specializing in teens, young adults and families struggling with anxiety, depression, emotional challenges impacting education, relational challenges with friends and family and basically most issues that could impact a young person. I am especially experienced in supporting LGBTQ, second generation and multicultural identities. I’ve been in your shoes before, seeking therapy as an adolescent. It’s now my mission to provide the type of therapy young people deserve.
I believe that connection and community have the power to help heal and transform. Whether we are connecting with families, neighborhoods, classrooms or ourselves, we benefit from these relationships as we grow and thrive. As a therapist and group facilitator, my mission is to empower young people to enrich both their inner and outer connections with the world so they can overcome the obstacles in life.
I’m ready to provide a safe space to express yourself freely, build inner strength and empower your capabilities to thrive in between those messy teen years or in your early adulthood.
Parents often ask me how they can support their teen’s therapy. When parents and I take a team approach, I’ve found that the skills the young person is working on are more likely to be practiced and integrated into daily life. When it’s clinically appropriate, I work collaboratively with parents and families to bolster connection and support at home.
I am also skilled at working collaboratively with teachers, school administrators, pediatricians, learning specialists, case managers and psychiatrists to coordinate services when this is needed.
Here’s What Makes Me Different
My approach is eclectic, collaborative, and deeply human.
EMDR to help process trauma and build resilience.
Somatic and mindful practices to reconnect you with your body and ground you.
Creative and expressive tools like journaling, art, and parts work.
Group and individual therapy that honors connection, vulnerability, and authentic expression.
EMDR to help process trauma and build resilience.
Somatic and mindful practices to reconnect you with your body and ground you.
Creative and expressive tools like journaling, art, and parts work.
Group and individual therapy that honors connection, vulnerability, and authentic expression.
This is where things start to shift
Whether you're navigating high school, your thirties, or somewhere in between, this is the chapter where you begin to feel more like
you.
Book your free consultation and let’s get started.
Book your first session
❋ Rates: $215 per 50 minute in person or virtual session
❋ $250 per 60 minute intake session
❋ $140 for 30 minute parent consultation (virtual, phone or in person)
❋ Superbills are available for PPO reimbursement
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of therapy for young adults and teenagers?
The best type of therapy for young people is one that meets them where they are- emotionally, culturally, and developmentally. Many young people benefit from trauma-informed, relational approaches that help them explore identity, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions in a safe, nonjudgmental space.
Therapies like:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)- effective for trauma, self-worth, and stuck beliefs
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) - helps build emotional flexibility and self-compassion
- Mindfulness and somatic-based therapy - supports nervous system regulation and body awareness
- Expressive therapies (like art or journaling) - especially helpful for processing emotions that are hard to verbalize
Ultimately, therapy is most effective when it’s tailored to the young person's needs, preferences, and lived experience, not a one-size-fits-all model.
Do you offer therapy in person? What about virtual? Which one is better?
I am primarily an in person therapist and I have a long history of giving and receiving in person therapy. I feel that the therapeutic experience is more impactful and rich in a face-to-face setting and it is easier to engage and connect. That being said, I also completely understand that in person is simply not possible for many people due to distance and timing. I do offer the option to meet virtually to any client. There are certain clinical situations where I could require in person meetings with an adolescent client. I will say I have had many fully virtual clients and have found our work to be rich and meaningful as well.
If you live within driving distance of my office in Pasadena and have the ability, I encourage prospective clients to consider meeting in person.
We could also have a hybrid relationship depending on your needs. I do feel that my clients who come in benefit from having their own calming and private space to do this work and then return to their lives afterwards. It is up to you- I am flexible do not judge either way!
What are your fees?
My fees are $215 for a 50 minute session and $90 for a 60 minute group session. For phone calls and check ins, they are complimentary for the first 20 minutes. If we need to talk more in depth, I recommend scheduling a 30 minute ($140) or 50 minute session. My 60 minute intake assessment sessions are $250.
I offer sliding scale rates for those who are experiencing financial hardship. Please discuss this with me if you feel that you qualify. My clients who pay my full fee make it possible for me to offer a wide sliding scale to our community.
Do you take insurance?
I am considered an out-of-network provider and do not bill your insurance. However, if you have a PPO plan, you may be able to get partial reimbursement of your therapy costs which is a great way to make therapy more affordable to you. I can provide you with superbills each month which you can then submit online to your insurance company and they would issue you a reimbursement check directly. Check with your plan to determine the percentage reimbursement you qualify for.
What is your cancellation policy?
I require 24 hours notice in order to cancel an appointment without charge. If something comes up for you, I can offer you reschedule options within the same week. If we are unable to reschedule then I will still need to charge the cancellation fee which is the full fee for our time.
Can we start out therapy every-other-week?
It’s rare for me to offer new clients every-other-week time slots and encourage starting weekly. Starting therapy with someone new requires time to get to know each other and build our relationship. I also really need this time with you to understand the challenges you are having and have the opportunity to conceptualize what we will do together. Spacing this crucial process out to every other week really slows everything down and makes it harder to get going. Think of it this way- if weekly therapy is at the 100% level, every other week is at the 50% level. When we start out at 50% it will make both of us have a harder time seeing where this is going. Once you’ve been in treatment for a while and have been able to make progress and changes in your life and are meeting your goals, we can discuss every other week therapy as a "maintenance mode” to help you stay at the level you’ve achieved and to keep the momentum that we’ve already built going.
How likely are you to cooperate with police, ICE (immigration and customs enforcement) or other entities concerning my private therapy content?
That is an excellent question and I take your privacy and security very seriously. Along with all other therapists and human services professionals I am a mandated reporter which means there are a limited number of circumstances in which I would be required to report on something that is shared with me in therapy. They are:
Reports of child and elder abuse, including other minors in the community. This includes all forms of physical and sexual abuse. Teens exchanging nudes is considered child pornography and this is reportable as well.
If it is reported to me that you are planning on seriously harming another person I am required to notify the person in danger in accordance with the Tarasoff duty to warn law.
If I believe that you are planning to commit suicide and are legitimately a threat to your own life, I would need to call 988 which is a crisis mental health hotline to ensure in your safety.
These are the only three situations in which I am required to break confidentiality. Please feel free to talk to me about this during our consultation call or sessions if you have any questions or concerns.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate,
visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059.
This website is owned and operated by Cristina Lugo, LCSW. These Terms set forth the terms and conditions under which you may use our website and services as offered by me.
This website is owned and operated by Cristina Lugo, LCSW. These Terms set forth the terms and conditions under which you may use our website and services as offered by me. This website offers visitors information about working together, and psychotherapy based content. By accessing or using the website of our service, you approve that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
