I was fortunate enough to be mentored by Christina for two years. Over this time, she gave me the courage and guidance needed to seek professional mental health help during an incredibly turbulent period of my life. While she was guiding me, her personable nature always made me feel welcome bringing heavy topics to her. I felt like I was talking to a friend, and I credit her in part with saving my life.

Christina is thoughtful and kind. She makes a person feel heard but never like a burden when seeking counsel. My experience of her is that of an exceptional listener, deeply empathetic, personable woman, a great confidant, and a trustworthy friend. From our time together in group settings as well as via one-on-one time, it was clear that people felt loved around her and by her in her space.

I met Christina during a tumultuous time in my life – preparing for college, grieving the loss of a grandparent, and coming to terms with mental health issues I had pushed aside for years. Christina was empathetic and healing with her words, but also provided me the tangible tools to assess my situation and create a solution. Four years on, I am now on the cusp of a new life beginning my career and am so thankful for her and our connection.

My experience with Christina is one of my most meaningful experiences of my life. When we met on Maui, I didn't even know she was a healer, but was referred to her by a trusted friend when seeking a guide to discuss a possible vision quest with.

Through a few simple questions we somehow traveled to, possibly, the deepest and most intimate wounds of my psyche. Things I have never had the access or desire to share with another human being. Christina’s calmness, sincerity, and healing energy were more than I could ask for.

This experience has allowed me to identify where I need healing, and my life has changed tremendously because of it. Frankly, I don't know what would have happened if I had never met her.

Christina’s energy is harmonic. She has the ability to tune her energy to another person in a gifted and healing way. She made me feel safe – I don't know how else to say it – but it's more than that. She made me feel the safest I have ever felt with someone.

Her empathy is her hallmark. I felt so much caring from her from our first meeting. Most of all, her ability to beautifully link her energy with others to create a space for true healing. This very pure energy that she brings so selflessly to the table is truly beautiful.

As a man who often keeps things inside, Christina allowed me to open in a way I can’t describe. She didn’t tell me how to heal. She showed me, through her wisdom, the strength that true gentleness takes.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have met her – like I just tripped and fell into having this amazing person in my life. Though we are separated by many miles, I feel that energetic connection still, and I believe she will change the world, even more than she already has.

Thank you, Christina.

Christina had, and has, a huge impact on my life. As a pessimist and stubborn, closed-minded thinker, I thought I had everything figured out – the narratives I had accepted and the expectations I had on life were set in my ways. Yet, when Christina entered my life, I felt like I was opened to the rest of the world. Through dialogue we were allowed to open up about each of our deeply personal life experiences and perspectives. Being earnest about not just our personal issues, but about our passions and what was interesting to each of us, helped me vulnerably connect to my peers, and begin creating my own personal dialogue. I felt safe in having challenging discussions and learning to truly listen to others. I always had an interest in psychology and self-development, but our experience with Christina exceeded any and all of my expectations. It was a place to implement true listening, a place for each of us to explore our mind’s inner workings and understand each other.

Christina’s spirit is one that resonates with me, and so many, because it’s raw and real. Christina is very empathetic, a quality many claim they embody more than they execute, yet this was always an earnest and essential quality in her. She’s kind and extremely hard-working – she shared with us glimpses of her life prior to her teaching and healing work, and I could genuinely see the determination and passion that Christina put into her work, education, and the life that she created. She is also very relatable, I always felt lucky to have mentors who were closer to my age and could provide context on what to expect in my near future or phase of life.

Christina radiates empathy, care and compassion – it is exuded through Christina’s personality and whole being. She became much more than just a mentor to me, she became a friend and somebody that I could trust. I can recall many occasions during our time together when I was vulnerably honest about difficulties in my personal life. I felt that Christina listened and cared about what I had to say, and she gave me such meaningful advice and guidance.

As mentioned before, I was stuck in my ways when I met Christina. I was convinced that we each had a specific path that we were sure to follow and go through in life, even if that path wasn’t necessarily ideal. Yet, I am now at a place where I don’t feel stuck and can see that there are infinite trajectories one can take. I feel Christina is a prominent player in changing my world view, and giving me that hope. I feel as though it is clarity she has given me – I have more clarity on seeing where I can go now to implement my own personal passions into the life I’m creating, just like Christina. I aspire to help people, even if I’m still not sure on who and how I can help the world around me. I find comfort in knowing it is not just a single effort, but there are many people in this world who are trying to heal it. I hope I can work with the same effort and dedication as Christina did for me, and for us, in this way.

Finally, I think it’s important for me to thank Christina. Thank you for allowing me to open up to others. Thank you for showing me empathy and concern in the times that I needed it. Thank you for helping me explore the passions that I knew I always had but wasn’t sure how to implement. Thank you for being genuine and real, for opening up about your struggles as vulnerably as you did. Your story touched so many of us and helped us with our deepest struggles, of identity, of self-compassion, and of self-reflection. I truly relate to you, and it was invaluable to have someone in my life who I felt truly understood me.

Thank you again, Christina, for being yourself, and most of all, for seeking to do good unto this world and life.

Christina has helped me out a lot. I was alone during a rough period in my life. I didn’t have many people to talk to. She made herself open to me, and created a space where I could come to her when I needed her in those tougher moments. She was not one to judge you for what you said, nor your actions. Her open and caring heart allowed me to talk with her during this challenging time, and the company and advice made all the difference.

Christina is a great listener – she understands the issues that we have during our lives. I felt very comfortable when talking to her about personal struggles. Even more so than the people I would normally seek out for comfort. This speaks volumes to her character.

After my time with Christina, I came to the realization that not all teachers and mentors are the same. There are some that you can genuinely connect with and seek help and advice from, who do it because it is who they are, and they have a genuine desire to help.

Christina helped me through an exceptionally difficult time a few years back. It is something I will never forget. Because of her I was able to push forward and move on with my life the way I wanted – to overcome and do a lot of things I never thought I would be able to do. Today, I have never been in a better place in my life. She helped me when it was needed most and I will forever be thankful for it. She is one of the most understanding and caring people I have ever met.

Thank you, Christina.

Christina is a light. She inspires us all to be more compassionate beings and live with intention. Christina is someone who truly listens without judgment. I am so grateful to have met her. She encouraged me and my cohort to be true to ourselves as unique and beautiful individuals and to live in the present moment.

Christina is a natural teacher. She enlightens, guides, and heals those around her. She is also one of the most positive people I’ve ever met. She has a calm, reassuring presence. Christina is truly a breath of fresh air! She is genuine, the definition of good energy. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, self-awareness, and self-compassion. Her teachings about self-care will stay with me through every phase of my life.

Each time you speak with Christina you feel a weight lifted off of you. She reminds you of what truly matters in life and focuses your attention on the good. She is patient, kind and understanding. Whenever I felt anxious, nervous, or upset I would talk to Christina. She is a voice of reason, wisdom, and clarity. She has a serene nature and is a true supporter.

Christina has inspired me to be unapologetic to the world about who I am and what I desire. As I have struggled with my self-confidence, this has been an extremely important lesson. Christina is someone with a spirit of gold, who can uplift you and encourage you to achieve great things.

Christina, thank you for teaching me valuable life lessons that I will carry with me forever. You inspire all those around you. Keep making beautiful changes in the world!

Christina’s soul is pure and kind. She wants the world for everyone and only means to do good in this world. She is extremely selfless and has a strong desire to help others. Her actions and the support she gave during the year we connected, an exceptionally stressful year for me, when I was facing both struggles academically and in my home life, made it clear she was a blessing to me, and to all that met and would meet her.

She welcomed me warmly to talk with her about things that were happening during such an essential and influential time in my healing process. She has always been such a gentle soul.

Christina is selfless. She puts others before herself, with respect to her own boundaries, and cares about the wellbeing of everyone, even if you just met. I felt this firsthand while working within a therapeutic, group-oriented setting. Her ability to empathize with her peers and friends, and to attune herself in order to best serve them is truly moving, and I, to this day, consider her an influential figure in my journey as a young woman.

The passion she has for helping others and enhancing the mental health field through her own unique life experiences widened my view of what the world has to offer, and aided me in deciding on a career path within family, youth, and community sciences. Christina, and our time together, taught me so much. Most of all, that all things happen for a reason, and that the world is a beautiful thing.

Christina has helped me to see the importance of mindfulness and prioritizing taking care of myself. These skills have allowed me to acknowledge my struggles rather than push them aside until they become magnified and affect my future. This has brought me greater peace of mind, more ability to work with my emotions and greater sensitivity in how I interact with others.

Knowing Christina has changed my life for the better by allowing me the experience of being felt, seen, and understood, in a genuine way. Our experience and time together made me feel more capable of achieving my goals.

Christina is a strong, wise, personable, genuine, and self-aware spirit that can easily connect with many. She sees others as they really are – rather than the façade they may try to portray. She has a genuine desire to connect on a deeper level and demonstrates this through her vulnerability and compassion. Christina brings an open mind to every interaction. She experiences life to its fullest and most vibrantly and wants to share that by creating spaces to help others have the ability to do so as well.

Christina has a unique desire to keep learning. She wants to be constantly growing in every aspect of her life, which motivates her to become the best possible version of herself. Rather than feeling satisfied in where she is and becoming stagnant, she pushes herself to better understand people’s unique struggles and provide the best possible help. She has a gift to connect with everyone she meets, allowing her to be a versatile leader, healer, and close friend.

My time spent with Christina has shown me the importance of understanding my needs and addressing them. In the past, I would always put taking care of myself at the bottom of my list – but she has shown me that I need to show myself the same level of care and compassion that I show to those that I love most.

This has changed the way that I view myself and my priorities. My interest and love for helping others through the lens of mental health care has stemmed from her teachings, and I am now minoring in psychology at BYU. She has inspired me in a multitude of ways, ways that I now carry into my academic and personal pursuits.

Christina is one of the most genuine people I have ever met. She showed me love and compassion when I needed it most and her example is something I wish to exemplify to the people in my life for the rest of my life.

Christina changed my life by being a safe emotional outlet for my trauma. She was a gentle warm light in a dark period of my life. Her gentle nature allowed me to trust her and aided me through the healing journey.

Christina’s spirit is empathic, and this is the true magic that allows others to feel safe and to be themselves. She creates an open line of communication with those around her. Christina’s empathy and warm heart are exemplified within all of her relationships.

Christina has a maternal quality about her making her a healing caregiver. She is devoted to forming deep connections. She has an aura of comfort allowing people to surrender their emotional barriers.

Christina had an immense impact on me at an impressionable age – as I was working through deep personal questions. She embodies what a kind heart is. She encouraged me to help others the way she helped me. She is also the reason I fell in love with the mental health field and decided to pursue it as a career.

Christina is a wonderful human being, filled with love and compassion. A true empath with the need to heal those around her. She brings joy and tenderness to the lives she touches.

I have known Christina since I was a teen. She always provided a warm, safe, and welcoming environment for me. Christina’s love and support followed me years later, when my mother was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Christina wasted no time in personally reaching out to me in my darkest times, providing words of encouragement, support, and even a beautiful homemade dinner. It meant so much to me and my family.

Christina made me realize at a young age that mental illness is something that should be normalized and is not something to be ashamed of. She taught me the importance of reaching out when you need help, rather than suffering in silence, and for that I owe her much of my success in life. She has one of the brightest souls I have ever had the privilege to encounter. Her devotion to helping others in their darkest moments has changed my life.

Christina is selfless, respectful, and warmhearted; she would drop any task at any given moment to help someone in need. Christina treats everyone as worthy of love and is an amazing listener. Her kind presence makes you feel heard and validated. Christina sees the good in people and views the world in vibrant colors.

Christina taught me the importance of self-worth at a young age. She taught me that everyone is on a different path in life, and one is not better than the other (something I struggled with all throughout college). Christina is one of the reasons I have decided to pursue my Ph.D., as she taught me that my mental illness is not bigger than my ability to achieve great things in this life.

While the struggle of depression and anxiety is one that I still experience every day, I always try to remember the important lessons that Christina taught me. I believe that she is exceptionally qualified to serve as a healer for others, as she was for me. Her positivity is inspiring, and I look forward to seeing her dreams unfold.

Christina was instrumental in the healing of my generational trauma, deep emotional wounds, and traumatic past experiences through the use of plant medicine. Going into new situations, especially ceremony, I used to be filled with anxiety almost to the point of physical illness. During journey, and in our time together, Christina was able to sense my anxiety and quickly put me at ease. Her nature is warm, welcoming, and calming even to those who are initially meeting her. By gracefully putting me at ease, I was able to open, sharing wounds and vulnerabilities that had stayed hidden for decades. Throughout our healing journey, Christina supported me as I processed and released heavy emotions. Ever so gently, she cleared away the darkest parts of my personal energetic and left me lighter and uplifted.

I have been blessed to continue my connection to Christina outside of that healing space. She continues to be supporting and encouraging –teaching me more effective ways to communicate my thoughts and needs to others. Beyond that, she has empowered me to not live in fear of rejection.

If you have the opportunity to work with Christina, take it. You will not be disappointed.

Meeting Christina changed how I perceived the concepts of empathy and mentorship. I held the opinion that most often, adults were simply pragmatically focused on completing a job or a task, and that they didn’t have the ability or bandwidth to truly connect with and understand me. This is relevant as Christina worked with me in my late teens.

Christina was different. She made it very clear from the onset that she would be there for any one of us. After seeing how much those working with her grew to love her just for her kind heart and personality, I was able to see the value in selflessness and creating a supportive environment for others, as you may never know the deep and private struggles they are working through.

Christina was always able to light up the room or touch your soul depending on the circumstance. On a group level, many times just the presence of her energy made our time together learning and growing very enjoyable. On a personal level, she was able to make you feel understood and loved even if she had only just met you. It was impossible to tell if she had known someone for a few moments, a few months, or a few years.

What is unique about Christina is that she could not possibly judge you or allow you to feel like you are on your own – her ability to make you feel comforted and loved even if she has only known you for a short amount of time is remarkable.

The last time I spoke to Christina, she helped advise me on my plans for the future. Until I spoke with her, I felt like many people were pulling me in many directions, but when I spoke to her, she finally made me understand that regardless of my choice, whatever I chose would be the best option – because I was able to make the decision myself and believe in myself. Only I could know what was best for my future. This allowed me to see past my desire for acceptance and see what I truly wanted for my future.

For many years, I was afraid of seeking help because of the stigma around mental health in my community and culture, as a Muslim. Having a mentor that was also trained in the nuances of emotional health and trauma support gave me the opportunity to confide in someone without financial or religious issues holding me back. She was truly supportive of me during a time of stress and change. I believe everyone deserves to have someone like her to be able to turn to.

I’m a firm believer that everyone who comes into your life, at whatever part of your journey, does so in divine alignment with what you most need. Christina is one such person – a person I can wholeheartedly say I meant to cross paths with. I met her at a time when I was struggling with decisions in my personal life –confused about my next step and worried over the opinion of my parents.

Christina not only offered me true comfort in our talks, but she helped most by sharing her wisdom with me.

It’s hard to pinpoint what it is that made, and continues to make, me feel comfortable around sharing experiences with her – but I always have, and she always does.

Christina inspired me to live more for myself and assured me by the truth of my belief in myself that all else would fall into place, and it did.

Meeting Christina guided my journey to live more authentically, regardless of the opinions or demands of others.

Because of her, I learned how to make my life my own, and she helped me believe that. What’s more fulfilling than that?

Our conversations and her essence are inviting, warm, and open. With Christina, it’s a judgment-free zone. She treats others with sensitivity and care, which is rare in a world like the one we live in.

Her use of active listening was incredibly healing for me as I opened up to her – I realized there are no walls when talking to Christina. A talk is merely an exchange where she’s able to empathize in a way that is tender and honest. Above all else, she is there to listen. She is there to empathize. She is there to respond with love. Her heart is open, I don’t feel like there’s a single wall up if you come to her or seek her out for help.

I felt her impact quite possibly before we even had our first long talk.

Christina radiates an energy that I could have clearly felt as boundless. Being in the presence of a person with that, it’s hard to not feel inspired by that energy to be more open myself. Christina has helped me come out of my shell and into my calling. She has helped me realize that my only limitations are the ones I place upon myself. If I hadn’t met her, I don’t know where I’d be. Christina helped me mold my future to match what felt right in my heart.

Some people were brought onto this earth with a gift of healing. It’s rare, and sometimes one that is suppressed in order to avoid the pain that can be felt when walking a path of such immense difficulty, vulnerability, and responsibility.

I’m eternally grateful to Christina for sharing her healing touch and choosing to walk it.