Chrissy Kortenhoeven, LMFT

My passion is working in partnership with my clients to encourage and support them as they face life bravely, while empowering them to FLOURISH in HOPE, FREEDOM, and GROWTH. My clients leave our sessions with insight and tools to move beyond their troubling issues. I recognize how hard it can be to seek change and ask for help. I love supporting clients in this work!

Chrissy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with licenses in both CA and TX and Clinical Trauma Professional.
I am a Christian Counselor and part of Focus on the Family’s Christian Counselor Network. I am happy to incorporate faith-based, Christian counseling into your therapy upon request. Christian counselors connect faith with psychological principles to enhance a person’s mental and emotional well-being. Christian counseling uses teachings from the Bible to help promote healthy coping mechanisms. In your first session, we will discuss whether you are comfortable with incorporating prayer, Scripture, and biblical principles into your psychotherapy sessions, and your preferences will be respected.

Treatment is individually tailored for each client in an environment in which the client can feel accepted and comfortable. Research reveals that clients who trust & feel comfortable with their therapist report better results. One of my favorite passages to encourage people is found in Isaiah 43:2-3a:

“When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze for I am the Lord your, God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

I love these verses because there is no situation that is beyond hope. God walks with us through our trials, and He lifts us up. He is faithful and also able to give us peace that passes all understanding. Trusting in God makes all the difference. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

If you place self-imposed expectations upon yourself because you feel your value is measured by standards imposed by others or by negative comments that you have internalized, I want to encourage you to STEP INTO YOUR WORTH and explore your identity in Christ. In therapy we can root out the lies and replace them with God’s truths about who He says you are. He calls you wonderful and beloved, and He delights in you. If you are looking for support, I would love to connect with you!

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Chrissy received her Bachelor of Arts from Westmont College in Santa Barbara in 1992 and then received her teaching credential from Westmont College in 1993. While an educator for 19 years, Chrissy sensed God’s calling on her life to be a conduit of God’s hope and encouragement by connecting with people’s hearts and listening to their concerns and struggles, with compassion and empathy. She then went on to achieve her Master of Science in counseling in 2002 from California State University, Fullerton.

As an intern during her master’s program, Chrissy worked with the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, providing individual and group therapy to the men in the program. She also worked with Casa Youth Shelter, providing individual and family therapy services to adolescents residing at the shelter to work toward reunification with their families. Through these experiences, she gained knowledge working with crisis intervention, high-risk behaviors, substance abuse, trauma, attachment issues, and other mental health concerns.

Next, she began her journey as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist at The Vine Counseling and Psychological Services. While working in the private practice setting, she gained experience with mood tracking and providing treatment for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She also provided treatment across the life span with children, adolescents, individuals, and couples. She is proficient in recognizing maladaptive coping patterns and helping clients replace them with distress tolerance techniques and healthy coping patterns to improve emotional regulation and mental health.

THERAPEUTIC APPROACH

My passion is working in partnership with my clients to encourage and support them as they face life bravely, while empowering them to flourish in hope, freedom, and growth. My clients leave our sessions with insight and tools to move beyond their troubling issues. I recognize how hard it can be to seek change and ask for help. I love supporting clients in this work!

Psychotherapy sessions are unique to the needs of the individual. I am an eclectic therapist and utilize the therapy that best meets the need of the individual and treatment goal. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and trained in EMDR therapy. Some of the more common therapies used include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, and attachment therapy, to name a few. I am also a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).

I have a heart for working with people through their grief. I specialize in grief therapy as well as walking alongside women with fertility issues.