Therapeutic Approach
I enjoy working with people from all walks of life. Each person brings their own strengths, accomplishments, challenges, mistakes, goals, ideas, and questions. I have worked with people dealing with anxiety, domestic and emotional abuse, trauma, relationship issues, stress, low self-esteem, and the challenges of college life, as well as those managing chronic mental health conditions and families with children on the autism spectrum. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of settings, including schools and private practice. I also have experience supporting those struggling with suicidal thoughts and those who have lost someone to suicide.
I see my role as a counselor as one of active listener and collaborative partner, helping clients explore different ways of engaging with the world while developing strategies to accept and grow into the person they want to be. I find that examining our thoughts and how we interpret our experiences can be a powerful stepping stone to changing behavior and building the confidence to face life’s daily challenges.
The approach I primarily rely on is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is grounded in the idea that our behavior flows from how we interpret events and situations. Those interpretations can be rational or irrational, and irrational thoughts tend to produce unhelpful patterns of behavior. My role is to help clients identify those thought patterns and develop healthier perspectives. Through a collaborative therapeutic relationship, experiential exercises, reflective exploration, and between-session work, clients can shift their attitudes and beliefs in ways that lead to meaningful change. What I believe sets me apart is a direct, engaged approach combining active listening, empathy, and humor with a consistent emphasis on accountability and motivation. I also trust that clients know themselves best, and I follow their lead in setting the direction of our work.
Qualifications
I graduated from Marywood University in December 2010 with a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling. I successfully passed both the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board Exam and the National Counselor Exam, earning my NCC certification in March 2011, number 266282. I am currently licensed in Pennsylvania as a Licensed Professional Counselor in good standing, license number 008085.
I have worked as a therapist at Marywood’s Counseling and Student Development Center and as a faculty member in the Psychology and Counseling Department, where I provide clinical supervision and teach master’s level counseling courses. I have also guest lectured in a graduate course for the criminal justice program. For the past several years, I have worked as a therapist and presenter for the Lou Ruspi Jr. Suicide Prevention Foundation.
Email Christine DeSousa: cdesousa@summitcounselingpa.com
Phone: (570) 213-5282