About Me

Over the past fifteen years, I have supported hundreds of teens, young adults and families in feeling more connected and aligned with the lives they truly want. 

My experiences struggling in my own therapy as a teen sparked a lifelong passion for healing, resilience, and community. I received my clinical training at a grant-funded trauma treatment program for children and teens in Richmond, Virginia, where I responded to crisis calls across the city and supported young people in play and art therapy sessions. After becoming licensed, I moved to Los Angeles and continued working in similar public mental health programs. As a community-based therapist, I met with teens in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods all over LA. I also provided therapy in Spanish, supporting families who had immigrated from Latin America. Eventually, I worked with unhoused and severely mentally ill young adults — meeting in parks or fast-food restaurants, always finding ways to make therapy human, flexible, and even joyful in the face of challenge.

In 2020, I transitioned to a Pasadena group private practice where I deepened my work with teenage girls, nonbinary youth, and young adults in individual and group therapy. Drawing from relational, mindfulness-based approaches like ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), I helped clients explore their relationships with themselves and the world around them. During this time, I also focused on my EMDR studies and became an EMDR Certified Therapist™, using this powerful tool to help clients process trauma and integrate their experiences. In 2025 I started Cristina Lugo Psychotherapy out of my dedication and loyalty to my clients.

Outside the therapy room, I’ve long been involved in grassroots community organizing — building spaces for connection through potlucks, advocacy, and cycling. My love of nature, art, and exploration continues to fuel me and informs my work. I believe in community care as deeply as I believe in individual healing.

Now, I bring all of these experiences together in my work with you. I see therapy as more than just a conversation — it’s a meeting place of your past, your present, and the life you’re trying to build.