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LCSW, CSW

Christine Penguino, LCSW, CSW

  • Experience7 years
  • LocationGeorgia
  • Focus areasLGBT, Parenting, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Christine

Christine Penguino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Georgia with seven years of experience across a wide range of clinical settings. She brings a practical, goal-oriented approach that helps clients clarify where they want to go and build small, measurable steps toward those aims.

Background and approach

Christine blends evidence-based methods with a warm, approachable presence and often uses homework between sessions to help people notice change and address barriers to progress. Her style balances gentle challenge with empathy - encouraging clients to explore beneath uncomfortable edges without making therapy more painful than necessary.

Christine has worked with diverse issues including anxiety, depression, grief, stress, trauma, relationship concerns, parenting, identity questions, and attention-related challenges. She also supports people navigating life transitions, career concerns, and struggles with self-esteem and body image.

Outside clinical work she brings a playful curiosity to life, drawing on creativity and humor. That perspective influences her therapeutic stance, inviting clients to experiment, learn, and adapt interventions that fit their values and daily realities.

Approaches that guide online therapy and how they help

Christine integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients explore and relate differently to their inner parts, fostering curiosity and self-compassion when confronting internal conflicts. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to clarify values, increase psychological flexibility, and support actions that align with what matters most despite difficult thoughts or feelings. Client-Centered Therapy underpins her way of being present and responsive, prioritizing empathy and the client’s own wisdom in guiding change.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the collaboration; Christine works with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She invites clients to experiment with techniques and to reflect together on what is helpful, adjusting strategies over time so the work stays relevant and doable.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to maximize flexibility and accessibility. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and try different communication styles to see what supports progress best.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Christine often address?
She works with a broad set of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, stress, relationship struggles, parenting concerns, ADHD, self-esteem, career matters, and life transitions.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Her practice is client-directed and goal-focused, using collaboration and gentle challenge to help clients try experiments and measure progress between sessions.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has seven years of professional experience working across developmental ranges and presenting concerns, bringing practical strategies and creativity to clinical work.
Where is Christine licensed to practice and what are her credentials?
She holds LCSW and CSW credentials and is licensed in Georgia, listed as GA LCSW CSW008503.
Does she work with clients who live outside the United States?
She accepts international clients and conducts sessions with English-speaking clients from other locations.
Which session formats are available for online work?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different preferences and needs.
How are fees and subscriptions handled for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps should someone take to begin therapy with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefCareer difficultiesDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureCaregiver issues and stressEmptinessFertility issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

7+ years

Licensed

Georgia

Languages

English