"I'm a human first & a trauma specialist second. Let's navigate this together with genuine love and authentic self acceptance."
Christine Sarkissian, Owner and Lead Therapist
"May you be blessed coming in & blessed going out."
Welcome, to Space for Grace Therapy, where we celebrate the journey of growth and evolution. We are committed to the values of transparency, compassion, empathy and vulnerability, recognizing them as vital to enhancing self-worth. By embracing new knowledge and cultivating the seeds of self-love in our minds, we can foster meaningful change. Come along with us on this transformative journey toward a more fulfilling life.
Andrea Sosa, CA
"Matching with Christine was a pivotal moment. It changed the trajectory of my life. A moment that has had an everlasting impact. She is so thorough in her work. She pushes you past the uncomfortable to get to greener places. Her candor is a top quality I am thankful for. Till this day there are many skills and practices I use in my daily life that I will quietly say to myself— wow my therapist would be so proud of me. I would choose her as a therapist in every lifetime. I highly recommend her!! 1000000/10."
Chase Bethea, CA
"Christine was appointed to me at very critical time in my life. I was undergoing some major growth changes and having difficulty navigating the mental state. She was very patient, sincere, prepared, attentive during every session. I have been using the tools she has given me to this day since my session concluded four years ago. The tools have transformed my life to new heights and her teachings resonate on a higher frequency now even more. The nuggets and guidance given has shown me a better mental space that I thrive in every second of the day. I’m truly grateful for Christine’s support, encouragement and mentorship and would highly recommend her to anyone."
James Halden, CA
"This was my first time in therapy and I don't think I really had any expectations going in, but if I had Chris would have blown them away. She is detailed, thorough, and transparent with the planning and schedule of how your EMDR treatment should go and works with you to build that plan together. It is very clear that you have to do the work. She is empathetic and kind, but also knows when you need a little tough love to get to the next step. Chris is also incredibly easy to build a trusting therapeutic relationship with."
"Space for grace" means intentionally creating room to be compassionate, understanding, and forgiving towards yourself or others, especially during difficult moments, mistakes, or imperfections, allowing for growth, healing, and a less judgmental approach to life's challenges. It's about pausing self-criticism to acknowledge human frailty and embracing acceptance, whether through quiet reflection, spiritual practice, or gentle self-talk.
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"You are the head and not the tail!"
My Journey
Throughout my experience working in the field of psychology and social work, I have had the privilege of working with client's of all ages combatting a variety of diagnoses, developmental delays, ancestral trauma's, spiritual warfare and chronic addictions. Most of my work is aimed towards supporting client's address unresolved sexual, emotional, mental, spiritual, & physical abuse, as well as severe childhood neglect.
Trauma generally takes the form of spiritual, physical and mental imprisonment, stealing our childlike innocence and wonder. Trauma also often systematically causes people to engage in rebellion which leads to self rejection, self sabotage, and lifelong self protection when it is unaddressed.
The journey to healing my personal trauma's, as well as helping people face the darkest moments in their lives has allowed me to develop a holistic approach to healing trauma. In therapy, we identify and process the root causes of childhood trauma and together, we learn new adaptive ways of thinking, feeling and behaving.
Education
2013-2015
Bachelors in Psychology
California State University, Northridge
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Core foundation in understanding human thoughts, feelings, and motivations for behaviors. Learned theories of personality, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, social behavior.
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Minored in research skills: Designed studies, data analysis, understanding the scientific method in psychology. Tutored students in Research and Statistics, engaged in research competitions testing programs in inpatient mental health programs, juvenile justice system, and the prison system.
2015-2017
Master of Social Worker
California State University, Northridge
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Advanced core coursework in human behavior, policy, research, and ethics in Micro (individual therapy), Mezzo (community based work) and Macro (systematic policies).
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Heavy emphasis in Child Development, Research and Statistics & Abnormal Psychology
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2016-2017 Recipient of the Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Scholarship
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2016-2017 Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Stipend Recipient $18,500 Reward -Dedication to serve diverse, underserved populations
Professional Experience
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2017-2021 Tessie Cleveland Community Mental Health: Outpatient, field based community mental health.
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2022-Present Private Practice ownership previously under Tibetan Quartz Healing Therapy, No Limit Trauma Specialty Group to current evolution of services, Space for Grace Therapy.
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2021 Licensed Clinical Social Worker #101170
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Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Specialization training completion, certification in progress.
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Couples Counseling (Gottman, Attachment Theory, Positive Psychology)
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Faith Based Counseling & Deliverance (Ancient Wisdom, Biblical Context, healing religious trauma, exiting Occult practices, witchcraft, cult).
Services
I am ideally positioned to help individuals seeking structured, goal-oriented therapy that targets the root causes of trauma leading to challenges, including self-esteem, identity, communication, social issues, family dynamics, relationships vocational and educational difficulties, and feelings of hurt from religious experiences or anger towards God.
Individual Therapy & Faith Based Counseling
Focused on healing the scars of rejection and abandonment while reconstructing an identity rooted in unconditional love. Highlight the significance of reshaping the subconscious through neuropsychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, and positive psychology.
Faith-based counseling will serve as an additional framework within individual and EMDR services. Clients who have faced religious trauma, seek to renew their relationship with God as part of their healing journey, or aim to distance themselves from occult, witchcraft, or cult-like practices and groups will find services beneficial.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Focused on helping people heal from trauma by processing distressing memories through guided bilateral stimulation (like eye movements, taps, or tones) while recalling the event, which reduces its emotional power, allowing the brain to reprocess it healthily, much like how the body heals physical wounds.
In essence, EMDR isn't just talking about trauma; it's a neuroscientific approach that physically changes the brain's structure and function to resolve past experiences and build a more resilient future, using the very plasticity that allowed the trauma to impact the brain in the first place.
Couples Therapy
Focused on fostering reconnections among spouses, life partners, divorcees, and co-parenting relationships. Our goals include rebuilding admiration, compassion, empathy, healthy communication, and creating space for grace and forgiveness, drawing on principles from Gottman Couples, Attachment Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Positive Psychology.
