Welcome! I'm Christina.
I am a leadership coach committed to bettering humans and workplaces through Secure Leadership.
I'm an outdoor enthusiast, community connector, and mental fitness advocate.
I began my career as a therapist in community mental health centers in Philadelphia, supporting clients across the spectrum of need, from crisis intervention to outpatient care. I rapidly advanced into a management role, which allowed me the opportunity to engage closely with leadership. This experience deepened my understanding of non-profit work, organizational structure, government policy, and community needs.
As a clinician, these years were filled with key insights into the importance of truly seeing my clients - and all of their parts. I learned quickly that the prerequisite for empowering my clients was to help them to feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure. Among many things, I used my favorite book, Tuesdays with Morrie to cultivate a desire within my clients for more - more fulfillment, more joy, more love!
In 2013, I relocated to the Roaring Fork Valley to launch my private practice. Shortly after, I identified an unmet need for improved mental health care, a need that was personal to me. In 2014, I founded a local non-profit advocating for Mental Fitness and served as its Executive Director for five years. Within that time, I co-founded and produced the five-year Changing Brains, Changing Lives Educational Symposium in Aspen (2015-2019).
This experience deepened my understanding of neuroscience, compassion, and attachment theory, which I have since integrated into my life and work. Combining this with years of knowledge and practice as a cognitive behavioral therapist, I noticed a significant impact on my own wellness and resilience.
These insights have strengthened me personally and professionally, inspiring me to lead my life with the belief that compassion fosters resilience and that secure leadership is the anchor for evolving into your greatest self.
In 2018, my father was diagnosed with ALS, only six months after the tragic death of two board members and dear friends. I spent the next two years stepping down from boards and leadership roles to create lasting memories with my family. These experiences, compounded by the impact of COVID-19, led me to reevaluate my future.
Since then, I have taken my life lessons, experiences, and education and have been building my coaching business to support others in embodying secure leadership and living with greater fulfillment, connectivity, and intentionality.
My work in this world has been one of my greatest gifts for which I am deeply grateful.
Living my best life also means cultivating time for myself, my health, and my loved ones.
I find great joy in making lasting memories with friends, family, my partner, and my 4-legged fur baby. You can find me skinning early mornings in the winter months, mountain biking in the summer and fall, reading books on health, leadership, or psychology, and cooking meals with loved ones, always with my beloved pup by my side.
ACHIEVEMENTS
My academic journey began at Bucks County Community College, followed by Penn State University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychological and Social Sciences. After a period of traveling abroad and living in the Rocky Mountains, I completed my post-master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and became a Licensed Professional Counselor.
In addition to my therapy credentials, I hold a "Woman in Leadership" certificate from Cornell University. I have completed Donna Zajonc’s Coaching with TED* Course and David Emerald’s The Empowerment Dynamic and 3 Vital Questions training.
I am an avid and active learner of neuroscience, optimal health, workplace development, and leadership; and am passionate about sharing my knowledge with you.
CONTRIBUTIONS
I have dedicated time to the Aspen Rotary Club and board (2015-2018) and the Pitkin County Board of Health (2017-2020).
I dedicated time to the Roaring Fork Valley's mental health coordination team during COVID-19. Following my role as executive director, I continued as an Advisory Board Member supporting the continued succession of Headquarters.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
2015
I was recognized as Aspen's Woman of Influence by Aspen Peak Magazine.
2016
I spoke on the "Women in Leadership" panel at the National Addiction Conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado.
2023