Meet Dr. Christina Cortez

My professional experience spans schools, community based agencies, integrated care, and higher levels of care, including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. Across these settings, I have worked with diverse populations presenting with anxiety, trauma related concerns, and complex life stressors, often within multidisciplinary teams. These experiences have shaped a macro level, systems oriented perspective and a collaborative, attuned approach to care.

I hold a doctorate from Antioch University Santa Barbara, along with graduate and undergraduate degrees in psychology from Chapman University. My academic training emphasized clinical practice alongside a commitment to social justice and advocacy. My research focused on immigrant parents raising children with special needs, with an emphasis on advocacy, reducing barriers to care, and promoting equity within systems of support.

Mindfulness is both a personal practice and a professional foundation for me, cultivated over more than a decade. It supports my ability to remain present, grounded, and attuned, while fostering curiosity, self reflection, and ongoing growth in my work and daily life. This perspective informs how I show up with others, allowing for greater intentionality, balance, and resilience.

Outside of my clinical work, I value connection and time with family and friends, often finding restoration in nature. I feel most grounded near the ocean, whether walking along the shore, stargazing, or gathering around a bonfire. I am especially drawn to the landscapes and slower pace of California’s Central Coast, where I find a sense of perspective, renewal, and calm.