Christiana Rigopoulos, AMFT

*accepting new clients

A little about me…

I was born and raised in San Diego, and I’ve always felt deeply connected to the ocean, nature, and the grounding that comes from being outdoors. Outside of the therapy room, I value spending quality time with my family and friends, staying connected to the people and places that bring me joy and meaning. Those relationships and experiences continue to shape the way I show up in my work—with presence, curiosity, and compassion.

As a therapist, I’m especially passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves, strengthen their relationships, and move toward a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling. I work with clients from all walks of life and across the lifespan, though my practice primarily focuses on individual adults and couples.

What are your specialities and areas of interest?

My primary areas of specialty include self-esteem, relationship issues, trauma (religious trauma, abuse and neglect, sexual trauma), grief, and life transitions. I also support clients navigating identity exploration, emotional dysregulation, existential concerns, and patterns that may be keeping them feeling stuck or disconnected.

I’m particularly drawn to helping clients better understand themselves—how their past experiences, relationships, and environments have shaped the way they move through the world—while also empowering them to create meaningful change in the present..

What is your therapy style?

My approach to therapy is warm, relational, and integrative. I strive to create a space where clients feel safe enough to be fully seen, heard, and understood without judgment. I believe healing happens through authentic human connection, and I view the therapeutic relationship itself as a powerful part of the healing process.

I draw from a variety of modalities including Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Solution-Focused Therapy, tailoring treatment to each client’s unique needs and goals. While insight and self-awareness are important parts of the work, I also value practical tools, emotional processing, and helping clients build a stronger sense of self, autonomy, and resilience.

What sparks the most joy for you as the therapist?

What brings me the most joy as a therapist is witnessing people reconnect with themselves in deeper and more compassionate ways. There is something incredibly meaningful about watching clients begin to recognize their worth, use their voice, set boundaries, heal relational wounds, and step more fully into who they want to become.

I feel deeply honored to hold space for people in moments of vulnerability and transformation. Being trusted with someone’s inner world is something I never take lightly, and it’s often the small moments of connection, insight, and growth that feel the most powerful to me.