Christina Sterlacci
Christina Sterlacci
LPC
She/Her/Hers
“Sometimes when you are in a dark place, you think you have been buried, but actually you’ve been planted.”
You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress—both can be true at the same time.
I began my journey as a therapist at DBT of South Jersey in 2019 as an intern. I felt deeply fulfilled by the work I was able to do with my clients, so when I graduated from The College of New Jersey in May 2021, I was thrilled to stay and begin my career as a therapist.
My journey with mental health started long before my schooling. In second grade, I was diagnosed with ADHD, and later in elementary school, I began experiencing anxiety and depression. By middle school, I was in therapy for emotional support. I know what it feels like to be lost, frozen in panic, dismissed, and trying things that didn’t help. Today, I still meet with my own therapist to continue my growth and get support—having a good therapist makes a big difference! My time in therapy as a kid was life-changing and, at times, life-saving. It’s always beneficial to have someone who listens, supports, and cheers you on. While talk therapy helped me process my struggles, I wish I had known about DBT. The skills involved address the whole person, and I love working with teens because it makes me happy to see them receiving the DBT I wish I had when I was younger.
Throughout my own mental health journey, I’ve learned so much:
Stay close to people who believe in you, lift you up, and remind you that it’s good to be yourself.
Embrace all of yourself—even the parts that feel dark, uncomfortable, or hard to sit with. I know it’s not easy.
But remember: it’s only in the dark that we can see the stars.
Take that darkness, that emptiness, and nurture it—watch flowers grow and light creep in.
Being on both sides of the therapy chair helps me deeply empathize with and connect to my clients. Everyone needs help with something, and when we reach for the hand extended to us, we can find our footing again.
DBT is a balancing act between acceptance and change while holding a nonjudgmental stance. One message I reflect on when it comes to acceptance—and one I wish all clients knew—is:
When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control how you respond. That’s where your power is.
I learned this through my own experiences—navigating anxiety, ADHD, and the challenges that come with them. There were so many moments I felt powerless, but over time, I realized that while I couldn’t always change my circumstances, I could change how I approached them. That shift made all the difference.
I earned my LPC in New Jersey in 2024 and have been practicing DBT since 2019, with foundational training through DBT of South Jersey. I have a passion for working with trauma survivors and expanded my expertise by training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) in August 2024 to help clients with PTSD reprocess traumatic memories. ART is also effective for panic, body image, school avoidance, daily motivation, and hygiene. One of my strengths in ART is using creativity—visualizations and imagery can help deepen connection to the process and create meaningful change.
I also have a passion for the neurodivergent community, and in 2025, I completed training in ADHD and Autism Assessment to better identify and support neurodivergent individuals.
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, yoga, art projects, getting coffee, getting my nails done, and spending time with friends. I also have 12 tattoos—and I’m always planning my next one!
Ages: 13+
Counseling Location: Moorestown In Person, New Jersey Online
Specialties: DBT, trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Mental Health Experience: Self Harm, ADHD Counseling, Depression, Anxiety, LGBTQIA, Neurodivergence
Clients: Teens and Adults
