Relational Psychodynamic Therapy
Co-creating the change you wish to make in your life.
Christy Lee, MA
My Approach
Pain doesn't always begin with a single moment — sometimes it's been building quietly for years, long before you had the words for it. It can look like an anxious or heavy mood that's become so familiar you forget what steadiness feels like; a relationship with food or your body that carries feelings you can't quite name; or a history that's left you unsure how to trust or be close to others. These experiences can be isolating, but they make sense — and they can shift.
I work from a relational psychodynamic lens, which means I believe healing happens in relationship, not just by talking about it. Together, we'll pay attention to the patterns that show up in your life and in our work together — where they came from, what they protect you from, and what they cost you. My clinical training has centered on complex trauma, and I bring particular attention to how culture and identity shape the way we experience ourselves, our bodies, our relationships, and our pain — pieces of your life that are often woven into your mental health, even when they don't look like it at first.
Whether you're coming to therapy individually or with a partner, my hope is that our work together becomes a place where you can slow down, feel understood in the fullness of who you are, and begin to make sense of a story that once felt unspeakable. Over time, I hope you'll feel less burdened and more able to live, love, and connect from a place of groundedness.
Qualifications & Training
Education & Training
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (in progress) — Fuller Theological Seminary, Graduate School of Psychology, Pasadena
M.A. in Psychology — Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena
M.A. in Counseling — Missio Seminary, Philadelphia
B.A. in Psychology — University of California, Berkeley
Currently working under the supervision of Kenneth Skale, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 29006).
Specialty Areas of Practice
Complex & Interpersonal Trauma
Trauma isn't only a single, overwhelming event — it can also be the slow accumulation of relational wounds: being dismissed, betrayed, unseen, or unsafe with the people who were supposed to protect you. This kind of trauma often shapes how you relate to yourself and others long after the original experiences have passed, showing up as difficulty trusting, chronic self-criticism, or feeling disconnected from your own emotions. In our work together, we'll build a relationship steady enough to hold what's difficult, so you can begin to understand your patterns with compassion rather than shame, and slowly build a different, more secure way of relating to yourself and others.
Anxiety, Depression, & Eating Disorders
Anxiety, depression, and disordered eating rarely show up out of nowhere — they're often the mind and body's response to unmet needs, unprocessed experiences, or the weight of trying to hold everything together. You might feel constantly on edge, exhausted, unmotivated, or disconnected from things that once brought you meaning. You might also find your relationship with food or your body has become a way of managing feelings that are hard to name or feel directly. Rather than only managing symptoms, I want to help you understand what these experiences are communicating, and work through what's underneath them. My goal is to help you feel less controlled by these patterns and more able to engage with your life, your body, and yourself with clarity and hope.
Cultural Identity & Faith
Straddling cultures, generations, or belief systems can bring up questions that are hard to talk about anywhere else: Who am I when my values don't match my family's? How do I hold onto my faith while questioning parts of it? What does it cost to feel foreign in the place I call home? These questions are not separate from mental health — they often sit at its core. I bring particular attention to the experience of navigating multiple cultural worlds and religious or spiritual identity, creating space to explore these layers of your life without needing to justify or minimize them.