We’re looking forward to introducing you to Cristiana Valenti. Check out our conversation below.
Cristiana , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yes, one of my clients and her husband recently had a breakthrough. I worked with the wife one-on-one and did a couple sessions with them together as a couple. They had a lot of compatibility and love but were having trouble connecting more deeply. Through some work that we did in individual therapy and some coordination with the husbands’ therapist, we came up with a retreat plan for them to do just the two of them to connect. It went so well and they have experienced a breakthrough after 12 years of marriage. It filled my heart with joy to know that they are experiencing more fulfillment in their relationship.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! My name is Cristiana Valenti and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC.) I have my own private practice in Oakhurst, right outside Decatur. I have been practicing therapy for about 8 years now and I find that with each year I love it more and more. I work with a variety of clients ranging from mood disorders, anxiety disorders to life transitions or those looking for a deeper sense of meaning. My practice focuses on approaching therapy through an experiential lens; through the body, the emotions, mindfulness and learning. I find that working with my clients not only utilizing talk therapy, but also a variety of modalities like Internal Family Systems, guided meditations and interactive activities really helps to integrate change. By utilizing experiential tools, clients often have deeper breakthroughs and actually get to have the corrective emotional experience within the therapy office. Once someone has experienced the breakthrough in an embodied sense, they are much more capable of repeating that experience out of the therapy space. Over the last two years I have been training in Somatic Experiencing, a trauma approach that builds a connection between brain and body, and that has really accelerated the benefits for my clients in amazing ways.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was in high school I went through a really tough breakup. My parents had divorced a few years before and there was some instability in my home life. I became very depressed and even suicidal. I went into a dark place for a few months and was really isolating myself from the world. While in that deep hole of depression, I was grappling with the hardships and cruelty that exists in the world. I was always a sensitive young child and would often cry when I would see houseless people. In high school I learned about global warming as well. It all seemed so overwhelming. During this time, I journaled and did a lot of deep self-reflection. I reflected on how my actions impacted the world and I decided that if I was going to be on the planet, I wanted to do something to make it a better place. I was not quite sure what that would be yet, but after some years that became more clear. I got my undergraduate degree in social work and then moved towards therapy for graduate school.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I think suffering is a great teacher. Through my times of suffering, I have learned many things. Two of the most notable though are resilience and humility. Through each of the challenging times I have been through in my life, I feel I have gained some strength or new ability to get through things. The other lesson learned is that we all have struggles and we all deserve compassion. Every single person experiences suffering in some way- everyone goes through loss and everyone has challenges to overcome. Our suffering and ability to overcome connects us and through sharing these experiences with loved ones, we can deepen our bonds through vulnerability.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say the public version of me is very similar to the private version. Of course with the people that I am closest to, they get more sides of me and more vulnerability; however, integrity is very important to me. I believe that the best test of someone’s character is how they act when no one is looking. Authenticity helps people see you and decide genuinely if you are for them or not. I think a lot of us get stuck in the trap of people pleasing and wanting to be liked by everyone. The reality is that not everyone will get along or be friends and I think it is better to show someone who you are from the beginning so there are not surprises down the line.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I really hope that when I’m gone, people remember me as a force of good. I always aim to support, empower and uplift those around me. Whether that is through listening to what someone is going through, celebrating their successes or showing up to make them a meal when they are sick. Community support is dramatically missing in the present and I think we are all really desperate to be seen and feel a sense of belonging. I hope that people remember me as someone who built community and encouraged people to feel safe to be themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cristianapsychotherapy.com/
- Facebook: Cristiana Valenti Psychotherapy
Image Credits
Headshots credits to Patrick Di Rito
