Christa Patel, LMSW (supervised by Lisa Delaplace, LCSW-S and Morgan Grahovec, Ph.D.) graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin. Christa earned her Master of Social Work degree from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2016. During graduate school, Christa completed internships at The Center for Addiction Recovery Studies and Methodist Charlton Hospital. Her social work career spans inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings supporting patients with
complex medical crises, addictions, chronic illnesses, end of life and the related grief and
mental health challenges that accompany these physical conditions.

Combining clinical expertise with lived experience, Christa can compassionately support
individuals and couples who have neurodivergence in the home. Christa enjoys serving clients
working towards radical acceptance and honoring their own, or their spouse’s or child’s, neurodivergent identity. Christa has a particular interest in PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), Autism, ADHD, and Highly Sensitive Persons. Christa believes these identities provide strengths to be celebrated and challenges that require unique coping strategies. Christa relies on evidence- based interventions to treat anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, burn out, addiction or problematic habits.

Christa pulls from an eclectic variety of clinical perspectives and trainings to support clients.
Some highlights include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Solution Focused Therapy
• Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (Dr. Ross Greene)
• Gottman Method – Level 2 Trained
• Relational Life Therapy – Level 2 Trained
• Trauma informed and EMDR training in progress

Outside of the office, Christa enjoys traveling with her family, exploring America’s National Parks,
and watercoloring.