About
I spent 20 years in the Air Force doing aircraft maintenance, with several deployments along the way. My style is direct and solution-focused, with a little bit of swearing and humor mixed in. I genuinely want you to feel better and get through what's been plaguing you, but I'll be honest, it might get uncomfortable sometimes. That's not a flaw in the process. That's the process.
Hi, I'm Christine.
When I made the jump from flightline mechanic to flight chief, I had a young airman who wasn't himself. Off. Quiet in a way that didn't fit him.
I pulled him aside and asked what was going on. Turned out he'd had a fight with his wife before his shift and couldn't get his head out of it. I sent him home to deal with it instead of making him push through a shift he wasn't present for.
He went home, talked it out with his wife, and came back in a completely different headspace. Before he got back to work, he told me something I haven't forgotten: no one had ever stopped to ask him what he was carrying. He'd always been expected to set it aside and push through, full stop.
That's the moment I understood what a non-judgmental space to actually talk something through is worth, and how rare it is in this world. I didn't have a name for it yet. I do now.
The Moment That Actually Changed My Career
I don't do the therapy voice. No “how does that make you feel?” No nodding along while you talk yourself in circles. I don't do warm, fuzzy hugs with no challenge. You came here for help, and help is sometimes uncomfortable. I'll meet you where you're at, but I'm not going to leave you there.
What I Don't Do
Most people who want to heal need direct, honest feedback, not always the gentle stuff. It's okay to challenge clients. It's okay to not beat around the bush. I think the biggest myth in my field is that there's one right way to do this work. There isn't.
What I Actually Believe
I'm a retired Air Force veteran. I understand the culture, the strength, the “I've got this,” the part of you that doesn't know how to ask for help because asking has never been the job. I'm not guessing at what your world is like. I was in a version of it.
Why Military and First Responders
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in NYS, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in MA, Master of Social Work. 20+ years of leadership and personnel management experience in high-stress environments, on top of clinical training in trauma-focused care. I also provide clinical supervision for LMSWs, MHC-LPs, and MFT-LPs in New York.
Credentials, For the Record
About
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in NYS, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in MA, Master of Social Work. 20+ years of leadership and personnel management experience in high-stress environments, on top of clinical training in trauma-focused care. I also provide clinical supervision for LMSWs, MHC-LPs, and MFT-LPs in New York.
Credentials, For the Record
I'm a retired Air Force veteran. I understand the culture, the strength, the “I've got this,” the part of you that doesn't know how to ask for help because asking has never been the job. I'm not guessing at what your world is like. I was in a version of it.
Why Military and First Responders
Most people who want to heal need direct, honest feedback, not always the gentle stuff. It's okay to challenge clients. It's okay to not beat around the bush. I think the biggest myth in my field is that there's one right way to do this work. There isn't.
What I Actually Believe
I don't do the therapy voice. No “how does that make you feel?” No nodding along while you talk yourself in circles. I don't do warm, fuzzy hugs with no challenge. You came here for help, and help is sometimes uncomfortable. I'll meet you where you're at, but I'm not going to leave you there.
What I Don't Do
When I made the jump from flightline mechanic to flight chief, I had a young airman who wasn't himself. Off. Quiet in a way that didn't fit him.
I pulled him aside and asked what was going on. Turned out he'd had a fight with his wife before his shift and couldn't get his head out of it. I sent him home to deal with it instead of making him push through a shift he wasn't present for.
He went home, talked it out with his wife, and came back in a completely different headspace. Before he got back to work, he told me something I haven't forgotten: no one had ever stopped to ask him what he was carrying. He'd always been expected to set it aside and push through, full stop.
That's the moment I understood what a non-judgmental space to actually talk something through is worth, and how rare it is in this world. I didn't have a name for it yet. I do now.
The Moment That Actually Changed My Career
I spent 20 years in the Air Force doing aircraft maintenance, with several deployments along the way. My style is direct and solution-focused, with a little bit of swearing and humor mixed in. I genuinely want you to feel better and get through what's been plaguing you, but I'll be honest, it might get uncomfortable sometimes. That's not a flaw in the process. That's the process.