Christine Penguino , LCSW, CSW

Christine Penguino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Atlanta, Georgia, with seven years of professional experience supporting people across the lifespan. Her work has ranged from play therapy with young children to grief counseling with grandparents, and she has recently focused on helping families in the LGBTQIA+ community navigate a variety of life challenges. Credentials include LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and CSW.

She brings a warm, often humorous perspective to her work and values living passionately. Outside the office she identifies as a self-described nerd who enjoys science fiction and fantasy like Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series and has strong opinions about television adaptations. She attends regional Burning Man events, creates art from thrift store Barbies, gardens despite modest success, posts playful holiday memes, and enjoys board games, puzzles, and conventions. When she needs quiet, she finds watching her tank of guppies and ghost shrimp grounding.

Clinically, she is kink and BDSM lifestyle friendly and supportive of ethically non-monogamous relationships such as polyamory. She also assists people transitioning out of conservative religious backgrounds and those exploring shifts in belief and culture. She frequently works with people on self-esteem and body positivity, and has extensive experience with non-neurotypical clients who have autism spectrum and ADHD diagnoses, as well as with anxiety and depression.

Her therapeutic stance is client-directed and goal-focused - she believes people usually know where they want to go and benefits come from gently pushing the edge of comfort. She often collaborates with clients to design practical "homework" between sessions to observe and measure progress, viewing missed tasks as information about readiness or barriers rather than failure. For those who continue reading, she hopes they are ready to begin the therapy journey together.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Christine Penguino integrates several evidence-based approaches into her online practice to meet a range of needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying personal values and accepting difficult thoughts or feelings while taking committed action toward meaningful goals - it can be helpful for anxiety, life transitions, and persistent worry. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and supporting the client’s own capacity for growth; it suits those seeking a respectful, nonjudgmental space to explore identity, relationships, and self-esteem. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors through practical strategies and skills, often used for depression, anxiety, and stress management.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative part of the work. She and the client evaluate needs, goals, and personal preferences to tailor a plan and adjust methods as progress unfolds. The client’s input guides which techniques are emphasized and how sessions proceed.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers flexibility and accessibility. Sessions can take place via video calls, by phone, through live chat, or with text-based messaging, allowing continuity of care across distances and busy schedules. This range of formats helps people fit therapy into their lives while maintaining a consistent therapeutic relationship.