Christina Cartagena, LPC

Christina Cartagena is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in South Carolina who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem struggles. She speaks plainly and offers steady support for everyday problems like sleeping troubles, panic attacks, and changes that feel overwhelming. Christina focuses on building practical skills and clearer self-understanding so clients can manage emotions more easily.

Her sessions are collaborative and grounded in real tools. She draws on cognitive behavioral methods to challenge unhelpful thinking and on attachment-focused work to look at how early relationships shape current struggles. Emotionally-focused and Dialectical Behavior Therapy ideas are used when emotion regulation and close relationships are part of the concern.

Christina has three years of clinical experience and uses that time to tailor each session to the person in front of her. She often helps people with parenting pressures, family problems, caregiver stress, and communication breakdowns. Other common topics she addresses include grief, trauma and abuse, body image, and intimacy-related issues.

In sessions she emphasizes simple, achievable steps: notice patterns, practice new reactions, and try small behavioral changes between meetings. She also works with people facing financial stress, feelings of emptiness or isolation, guilt and shame, and impulsivity.

People come to Christina to build steadier moods and kinder self-talk, and to improve how they relate to others. Her goal is to support growth through clear strategies and a listening presence.

How her approaches translate to online work

Christina uses Attachment-Based ideas to help people notice how past relationship patterns affect current behavior and feelings, which can be useful for improving connection and communication. She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors, a practical approach for anxiety, depression, and panic symptoms.

The right approach is something she figures out together with each person. Christina discusses goals and preferences, tries strategies, and adjusts the plan when something is not helping. This collaborative process makes it easier to focus on what actually improves daily life.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm available session formats before booking so you know what options the therapist currently offers. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when a full session isn't needed. It also supports continued work during life changes and helps practice new skills between meetings without rearranging your day.