aboutchristinemvalentin

Who Am I?

Growing up as a Puerto Rican female in Brooklyn and Queens, NY, I knew two things - one, I loved interacting with children and two, I wanted to help people. With those intentions, I set out on an academic and career path to bring those two together. My journey to get to where I am today entailed a variety of experiences for which I am truly proud. They include :

Starting my work experience at the age of 15
Graduating with my Master's degree from Social Work school in 2006
Working with older adults who were victims of Elder abuse
Working with adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer's disease
Working with individuals diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Opening my Private practice in 2010 to work with adults
And in 2018, expanding my private practice to include using Play therapy techniques to work with children, ages 3-8 and to also provide family therapy for their parent(s)/guardian(s).

Why Do I Work with Children?

From a young age, I've always loved being around children. To this day, I am that adult who gets on the floor and engages with kids regardless of who is around. When I see a child struggling because they are not able to effectively communicate with the adults around them, it pains me.

So, in 2019, I decided to pursue two types of training to enhance my knowledge on working with children and families. The first training led me to become a Foundational Theraplay® Practitioner. As a Foundational Theraplay® practitioner, I work with children and their parent(s)/guardian(s) to build a better understanding of each others' needs and enhance their relationships. Please visit my family play therapy section for more information.

The second training process I am currently pursuing is to become a Registered Play therapist - a credential that is designated to therapists who have a met a certain level of education and have a certain level of direct experience using play therapy to work with children and families.

What is my Hope for My Clients?

My desire as a clinical therapist is to help my clients and their families lead healthier more successful lives. I don't subscribe to a "one size fits all" approach and I don't guarantee success. What I do promise and offer is my compassion to understand your issue(s), my ability to not judge you for your thoughts and/or parenting style, and a willingness to help you better manage your situation. My goal is to have my clients and their parent(s)/guardian(s) feeling better when they leave a session than when they came in and to ultimately learn how to lead their life in a more confident and fun way.

I also strive to accommodate my client's schedules as much as possible by offering virtual and in-person appointments. Sessions are also conducted in Spanish when preferred.

If you have any questions or are ready to start therapy, let's begin by scheduling a free 20-minute phone consultation.

Call Christine

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* Please note e-mail is not considered a secure way of communicating. Please refrain from providing any sensitive/private information about your situation.