Ready for a change? I want to help

My name is Chrissy Cate. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. If you are in need of individual counseling or family counseling, I’m here to help . Whether feeling like you’re lost, can’t see yourself out of your struggles, trouble facing challenges at work, with your significant other, your children, your friends and need help out of this negative cycle? ….I have the clinical skills and real world knowledge to help you.

At one time or another in our lives we find that we are spinning our wheels, “stuck in a rut”, wanting a change and need a little help to propel ourselves forward. This inability to move forward in our lives often comes from unresolved feelings such as sadness, anxiety, our mind games (what we tell ourselves about our abilities) and the environment we surround ourselves in. Changing any or all of these obstacles is a major undertaking! Many of us have been in these negative cycles most of our lives and we need help to change them.

In individual therapy think of me as your guide, your coach, to help you understand the patterns that are not serving you, see where they come from and implement change to propel you in the direct you want to be. My passion for helping others comes from several significant events in my life which allow me to not only relate to what it is like to experience such losses, such sadness and worry, but also from a deep desire to help you learn from your own experience. We will work together to discover and address each of the unique challenges you face, and set up a treatment plan to break through them leading you to a happier, more fulfilled, productive life.

Much like individual therapy, family therapy will deal with the interpersonal struggles informed by each family members thoughts feelings, attitudes and beliefs. By giving each person in the family a voice in defining the goals for treatment with the ultimate goal being that your family functions better together. Additionally I focus on working with the modern family, in all its forms, and will work with you to design a treatment plan that works with your families unique needs.

Sometimes, try as we might, we feel ill equipped to meet the needs of our partner. In Couples counseling, I will assist you and your spouse to better understand each others needs, give you the tools to improve your communication in times of conflict and rebuild trust.  Using the Gottman method for couples, I approach couples needs from a practical perspective, giving you the tools to a more satisfying relationship.

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. ~ C.S. Lewis

My approach to Counseling / Therapy

I think of myself as a modern therapist, more of a guide or coach rather than the traditional Freudian therapist idea of the past. While I am a licensed professional, with the education that implies and 20+ yrs of real world experience in multiple areas of mental health, I have a practical approach to therapy. My approach is solution focused therapy with a mix of insight oriented, cognitive-behavioral and family systems information. In other words:

  • I want to learn about the issues you face.
  • Understand the history of these issues.
  • Help you see how these negative patterns are no longer serving you.
  • And finally help you implement a plan, reviewing your success all along the way.

You will come out with a product, a guide on how to approach challenges in your life.

My Résumé

EDUCATION & LICENSES

2009 – Present

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

License# LMFT 46867

California Board of Behavioral Sciences

1999 – 2003

Saint Michael’s College Colchester, Vermont

Received Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology 2003. Awarded graduate teaching scholarship. Interned at University of Vermont Counseling Department and for Champlain Valley Hospice.

1995 – 1998

University of California Santa Barbara

Awarded Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology & Linguistics

Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Awarded Distinction in the Major of Psychology, Received the Morgan Research Promise Award, Co-author on two research publications.

Publications & Presentations

Hegarty, M., Kriz, S. & Cate, C. (2003). The roles of mental animations and external animations in understanding mechanical systems. Cognition & Instruction, 21, 325-360.

Revlin, Russell, Cate, Christina L., Rouss, Tena S. (2001). Reasoning counterfactually: Combining and rending. Memory & Cognition, 29(8), 1196-1208.

When a Lion is a Snake: The Importance of Logic when Reasoning from False Assumptions. Paper presented at UCLA Undergraduate Research Conference, May 1998.

MY CAREER PATH

2007 – 2016

Mobile Crisis Clinician

Dignity Health, Sutter and VA Hospitals Sacramento & Yolo Counties CA

  • Completed crisis assessments in a fast-paced hospital setting to determine an individuals’ immediate safety needs.
  • Also coordinated inpatient hospitalization needs for acute psychiatric patients.
  • Communicated with intake and assessment personnel at local psychiatric hospitals, community resources and the ER hospital staff on hospital patient requirements.

2003 – 2009

Behavioral Health Counselor- Adult, Children & Family Services

El Hogar, Communicare, Dignity Health, Seneca Center & River Oak Center for Children Sacramento, Yolo and Solano Counties, CA

  • Conducted individual and family outpatient therapy for children and families with Medi-Cal, specializing in adolescent and family issues.
  • Developed treatment plans based on comprehensive assessment and coordinated with other health care providers, school, and family.
  • Facilitated several weekly drug and alcohol, mental health and psycho-education groups for adolescents in multiple settings.

  • Collaborated with county agencies including Psychiatric hospitals, CalWorks, probation, residential facilities, schools & juvenile hall.

2001 – 2003

Cognitive Behavioral & Domestic Violence Group Facilitator

Spectrum Youth and Family Services

Burlington, VT

  • Developed and lead psycho-educational groups on domestic violence and cognitive awareness skills to mandated clients connected with Vermont Department of Corrections.
  • Encouraged clients to master material through diverse means of delivery including audio/visuals, role-playing and group interaction.