Christiana Valko, M.S.

Psychotherapist

Christiana Valko is a New York State mental health counselor (operating under a limited permit), who aims to meet all persons with empathy, acceptance, and commitment to walk beside them on their journey in therapy. Aligning with person-centered therapy, she cultivates a warm, safe, and inclusive atmosphere. This therapeutic orientation affirms her belief in the potential for all persons to grow and create change in their lives. Her work is collaborative and fosters a strong working alliance with clients that upholds unconditional acceptance.

In therapy, Christiana empathically listens and holds space for clients to freely explore aspects of their past, present, relationships, choices, or sense of self. She supports clients to deepen not only their insight into their lives but their capacity for self-compassion; to embrace themselves with acceptance and create change from that place.

Christiana is intent on providing competent practices, with multicultural considerations, to meet the needs of her diverse clinical caseload. Upholding a trauma-informed approach, she integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness, somatic techniques, and positive psychology into the space of therapy. Christiana is certified in biofeedback therapy from HeartMath Institute. Additionally, she has a certificate for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Counseling to conduct exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) with clients who are struggling with OCD. Her areas of interest include supporting children, adolescents, and adults with depression, anxiety, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, gender and identity concerns, and relationship or adjustment concerns. With all clients, Christiana aims to identify personal strengths, cultivate a positive self-concept, and foster resilience.

Christiana obtained a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Previously a professional dancer, Christiana’s extensive movement background now informs her clinical work with clients as she emphasizes the mind-body connection and is skilled at incorporating interventions to ground clients in their somatic experience. Christiana has also presented research on the utilization of mindfulness and self-compassion interventions for depression at the New York Mental Health Counselors’ Association Summit. 

State that Christiana is Permitted to Practice in: New York

* Clients must physically be in NY during a telehealth appointment with Christiana.

SPECIALTIES

• Phone: 646-450-3064
• Email: contact@northeastpsychological.com

Contact us to schedule an appointment with Christiana.