Christina “Christie” Samulevich, LCSW

Christina “Christie” Samulevich is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship strain, and challenges related to identity and intimacy. She focuses on practical steps that reduce overwhelm and help clients move forward. She speaks plainly and aims to make the first steps feel manageable.

Christie draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside client-centered and solution-focused methods. Sessions emphasize clear goals, skill practice, and checking what works for each person. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and motivational interviewing when a client needs tools for emotion regulation or to strengthen commitment to change.

Her approach is collaborative and straightforward. Clients can expect conversations that identify patterns, test small changes, and build coping skills for day-to-day life. Christie encourages honest feedback so therapy stays relevant to each person's needs.

With three years of clinical experience, she has worked with a range of concerns including addictions, compassion fatigue, and trauma-related stress. She also supports people dealing with body image, codependency, commitment and communication problems, and life purpose questions.

Christie practices in Illinois as an LCSW. She offers sessions by video call, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging, and works with each person to find a format that fits their routine. Getting started begins by completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a time that works.

Many clients begin therapy worried and unsure what to expect. Christie helps break the process into small, practical steps so people can see steady progress and feel more in control of their lives.

Approaches that translate well to online sessions

Christie commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and depression. CBT breaks problems into small steps and gives practical exercises to try between sessions.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which centers the conversation on the persons own goals and experiences. This approach creates space for people to talk openly and decide what matters most to them.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are offered when emotion regulation and distress tolerance are a priority. DBT skills teach concrete techniques for handling intense feelings and improving communication under stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Christie will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, preferences, and day-to-day needs. That choice can change over time as progress is made.

Online sessions give practical flexibility. Video calls let therapists observe nonverbal cues while phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a short check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for quick updates, brief coaching, or when someone prefers written communication. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to maintain continuity when life is unpredictable.