Q&A With Christina Hagemeier
1. How long have you been practicing?
I have been working as a clinician for 5 years. Before joining Sage House I was an Art Therapist for Fairfax County Public Schools. I also have experience working with adults in acute psychiatric in-patient care.
2. What licenses and certifications do you have?
I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Virginia and I am a board certified art therapist. I am currently working toward my trauma informed cognitive behavioral therapy certification.
3. What are your areas of specialty?
I specialize in working with children and teens with a variety of diagnoses and presenting concerns, trauma (especially familial, intergenerational, and childhood), and neurodiversity.
4. What are your strengths and limitations as a counselor?
I am a connector and collaborator. I can see how various presenting concerns all relate back to a few key issues, events, or relationships and I work with my clients to help connect the dots for themselves so they have a greater understanding of themselves, their relationships, their bodies, and their environment. I also want to walk alongside my clients, not behind or infront of them. I see my clients as the experts and I am there to be a supporter in their mental health journey. I also like to think I am fun. Most people think of therapy as surious, difficult, and unpleasant, and it absolutely can be at times. But I firmly believe in joy and I try to bring that into my practice and help my clients experience joy even in the midst of the difficulties and challenges we are exploring.
Like all counselors, I don’t know everything. I strive to practice within my scope and only with clients where I have experience and expertise. I know my limitations when it comes to what populations I can work with and refer clients out with whom I am not a good fit. And, like all humans, I get tired, I make mistakes, I get angry, I struggle with balancing the day in and day out of life. I do my best to practice what I preach, engage in self-care, and put limits on how many and when I will see clients so that I can be present, available, and engaged with every client that walks through my door.
5. What is your general philosophy and approach to helping? Are you more directive or more guiding?
I believe that my clients are the experts. I view myself as a guide and a collaborator. Good guides know when to forge a path and when to relax and let others walk the path. In the same way, I sometimes use a directed approach and sometimes let my clients guide the session. In all things, I try to have balance. I don’t believe that one way of working is always correct for every client, and so, I do my best to tailor my approach to therapy to the person sitting in front of me.
6. How often do you seek peer consultation?
I am blessed to have many friends and colleagues in this field that I can rely on. I generally try to seek out peer consultation once a week, but will go to a colleague if I feel I need support with a certain case.
7. How do you create a safe and trusting environment for your clients?
I try to be authentic in everything I do. I believe in honesty, compassion, and integrity, so when clients come to me for therapy they know they are working with a person who truly cares and listens to them and not someone just coming in to do a job. As a person and clinician, I am constantly evaluating my biases and prejudices and how they affect my work with my clients and seek out and listen to constructive criticism and feedback when needed. I also believe that as a therapist I need to support and champion the rights of all people, that my care as a clinician needs to extend beyond the therapy space and into real life. In the therapy space, I stay engaged and listen to what my clients are telling me, I ask for feedback so that we stay on the same path, and I adapt my approach when needed so that together we are able to achieve your goals.
