Christina Bianchini - Intern Therapist

Christina is an intern member with the C.P.C.A (Canadian Professional Counselors Association); and in June 2012, she will be completing her diploma in Transpersonal Psychology from Clearmind International Institute.

With over 5 years experience working with others in the personal development field, Christina’s passion lies in the service and connection of supporting her clients. Through experiencing a miraculous personal transformation, she is driven to support others to realize their own potential to create a rich, full, empowered life.

Christina is a personal growth workshop facilitator, and has many years of experience assisting workshops and coaching individuals one-on-one. She believes that each person has the power within themselves to be, do or achieve whatever it is they truly desire.

"I knew that I wanted to be a Counsellor and help others since I was young, even becoming a peer counsellor at the age of 14.  As an adolescent, I struggled with a lack of self-esteem and  often felt an emptiness and lack of fulfillment. I constantly questioned why I was here, and used food to numb my negative feelings.  As I moved into adulthood, my quest to ‘not feel’ resulted in severe episodes of depression, isolation, and an escalating food addiction. 

At some point I had enough of living a life devoid of feeling, purpose and direction. I no longer wanted to live in the cycle of pain and avoidance. I gave up my life of isolation and realized the only way through was through. I faced the root of my problems instead of treating my symptoms on the surface.  I found new hope and success in handling my addiction to food and realized that my struggles contained great lessons and strengths from which I have created amazing relationships and a fulfilling experience of life".

Treatment Philosophy

I believe that each of us desire a life that is rich, passionate and full of love and joy. I strive to support my clients to uncover their innate ability to create the life they want. Often this potential is limited by false beliefs that I have made up about myself as a result of the experiences I have had. Counselling offers a way to heal the pain from our past, and to correct these false beliefs that keep us from living the life we want.

Most people spend their entire life avoiding the pain they fear will be unearthed in facing their current and past struggles. This anxiety is pacified with numerous unhealthy behaviours, and often in the form of physical, mental or emotional addictions. Anything not to feel; abusing alcohol, drugs or food; being a relationship junkie or avoiding relationships all together. I offer a compassionate and open space to explore and heal past hurts and move forward with claiming the gifts that come from facing our struggles.

It is my goal and responsibility as a counsellor to provide a safe and supportive environment, where individuals and couples feel that they can express their concerns and work towards greater mental and emotional health.   I believe that the client sets the goal and pace for the sessions, and that the counselling process is built steadily upon each session.

Life is all about choices, and those choices frame the way that I experience my life and the level of joy and happiness I attain. Our choices are framed by our beliefs, many of which we consciously and subconsciously formed as we grew up and experienced the world. Together, we can explore the basis of these beliefs and focus on what is most important to you in your relationship with yourself and others. I see my role as a counsellor as collaborator in the process of change and growth, and will draw upon the  counselling technique that is most appropriate to each client and each session. Some of the counselling frameworks I use are based in Bowen Family Systems Therapy, Gestalt, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) and person-centred therapy combined with a transpersonal perspective. The transpersonal refers to the integration of psychology (mental, emotional and physical) with the spiritual, creating an approach based on the idea that all behaviour is either a call for or an extension of love.

Bowen Family Systems Therapy

The family systems theory is a theory introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen that suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit.

It is the rules of our family system that create defined roles and rules for interaction amongst the members. Each person is interconnected, and any action by any one person impacts the system as a whole.

Integral to this theory is the idea that problems are not created in isolation on the part of one individual, rather that they are often based in the dynamics of our family of origin.

Discovering the values, patterns and beliefs of your family system will put you in a place of choice as to whether to embrace them or to choose a new path that will embolden you to move forward into new possibilities for growth.

Education

• Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC #3239) intern member with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association
• 3-Year Counsellor Training Program in Applied Transpersonal Psychology from Clearmind International Institute (Completion June 2012)
• Trained Facilitator of the Advancement of Excellence

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