Therapist and Yoga practitioner.
Christina Sieren, LCSW provides a dynamic and integrative approach that individually customizes each service to the specific needs of each client.
With countless resources available for parenting teens, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Do this, don’t do that, do more of this, and never do that
In a perfectly ideal situation, we take what we read, put the recommendations into practice, and the actions we take give us the results we want. A simple input, output process. If only it were that simple…
Realistically, it all starts to feel like a never-ending list of demands. We’re often left feeling ashamed and overwhelmed, thinking, Is there a right way to do this? and wondering if any amount of advice will lead to the outcome we’re hoping for.
As a licensed psychotherapist specializing in working with high-risk adolescents since 2007, I understand that parenting isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey—especially when your teen’s path includes struggles that can feel isolating and difficult to navigate.
Beyond professional experience, I’m also a parent of two. I know firsthand that sometimes, in our desire to do the right thing, we inadvertently make parenting even harder by ignoring our own instincts.
I believe that caregivers play an invaluable role in the healing process—and often, it starts with a shift in perspective and approach. In our work together, we’ll go beyond the typical DOs and DON’Ts, input output approach, and instead focus on understanding your unique family dynamics, building meaningful connections, and developing practical skills that foster long-term growth.
Blending Therapy and Yoga
Education and experience
In my practice, I integrate traditional therapy with yoga-based tools for mood management (Yoga for Mood Management). Yoga doesn’t require silence, long holds, or precise postures. Instead, it invites movement, sound, and breathwork that adapt to wherever you’re at in the moment. This combination supports teens and parents by addressing mental health holistically, offering tools that enhance emotional regulation, cultivate an inner calm, and encourage self-inquiry.
This integrative approach gives families a unique blend of evidence-based psychotherapy and accessible, easy-to-implement yoga practices that don’t require a mat or special equipment. Together, we explore simple techniques to calm the mind, manage mood, and increase self-awareness—all of which help create a more balanced, grounded experience for you and your teen.
Prior to 2015, if someone mentioned the word “yoga,” my first thought was how boring. I pictured myself having to sit very quietly, holding an uncomfortable pose for way too long, and not having permission to move.I was very active growing up, so silence and holding still were two things I didn't do well.
In 2015, I attended a Compassion and Wisdom Conference and one of the speakers, Amy Weintraub, founder of the ®LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute, provided a presentation on evidence-based yoga breathing and self-regulation. I was amazed; I had an entirely new perspective on yoga and wanted to learn more.
Amy's approach was inviting and non-judging. I just needed to be where I was at in that very moment instead of trying to force myself to relax or calm down. I let go of my expectations on what I thought yoga was and opened my mind, body, and soul to what yoga could be for me.
After immersing myself in yoga practices and cultivating a daily practice for myself, I wanted others to experience the benefits too, so I trained and became a Certified Yoga Practitioner, Level 1 and Level 2, with LifeForce Yoga.
As children, we’re often asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer was always the same, “I want to help people.”
At first, the dream was to be a Pediatrician. I enjoyed the authenticity that children effortlessly portrayed; their curiosity about the world, their blunt conversations, and their impulsive behaviors. But after much research, I recongized that medicine wasn’t the right fit for me. My vision shifted: I wanted to connect with people deeply, hear their stories, and understand their unique experiences.
After my first psychology class in high school, I knew I was on the right path. I went on to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona and completed my Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health from the University of Southern California. Since receiving my license in 2010, I’ve been working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, supporting clients through life’s challenges with compassion and understanding.
Parenting Teen Girls: A Positive Parenting Approach to Raising Healthy, Independent Daughters
It was a wild ride from start to finish, and I'm thrilled to now be in a space to share this book with you. I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I loved writing it!
This book is a collaborative, and interactive, approach on positive parenting principles that will help you, the caregiver, not only guide and support your daughter, but also connect with your teen on various topics. Chapters address cultural factors that impact teens, brain development, communication, biological and social influences, body image, bullying, social media, sex education, gender expression and identity formation, and drugs and alcohol.