Supervised by Julie Burke, LPC-S

Hi y’all, I’m Cristina Vasquez (she/her), a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in the state of Texas, supervised by Julie Burke, LPC-S.

I became a therapist because I’ve always been drawn to what lives beneath the surface - the emotions we hide, the patterns we repeat, the relationships that shape us, and the stories we carry without even realizing it. I’m interested in the why beneath the what, and I believe that understanding ourselves with honesty and compassion can change how we move through the world. Becoming a therapist felt less like choosing a career and more like stepping into something that had always fit - a place where my curiosity, empathy, and fascination with the human experience finally made sense.

I’m not a “perfectly put-together” therapist - I’m a real person. I believe in honesty, humor, vulnerability, and showing up as a human in the room. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, and I don’t expect you to either. What I offer is presence, curiosity, and the willingness to sit with you in what feels confusing, heavy, or unspoken. My approach is relational at its core: I show up grounded, warm, and fully present, and I invite my clients to do the same.

Working with me often feels more like grabbing coffee with a friend - one who brings humor into the room and isn’t afraid to lovingly call you out on your BS when you need it. I stray far from the traditional, sterile “medical model” vibe; therapy with me is conversational, collaborative, and deeply human. I’m also not a blank-slate therapist - my clients will tell you I’m very expressive, and my facial expressions in session often say as much as my words.

I am an LGBTQIA+ ally, sex-positive, and kink-friendly, and I welcome clients with diverse identities, relationship structures, and lived experiences. My priority is that you feel safe, affirmed, and seen exactly as you are.

Clinically, I draw from psychodynamic, attachment-based, and narrative perspectives. I’m interested in how our past shapes our present, how relationships influence our sense of self, and how the stories we internalize (often unconsciously) guide the ways we move through the world. I’m drawn to depth, nuance, and the slow, meaningful work of understanding yourself more fully.

I often work with women in their 20s through their 40s, clients who are new to therapy, and those navigating the complexities of being a first-generation Latina - carrying the weight of expectations, cultural shifts, identity exploration, and the experience of moving between worlds. These stories hold depth, resilience, and complexity, and it’s a privilege to be invited into them.

My areas of focus include relationships, identity, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and the internal experiences tied to self-worth, boundaries, and the inner critic. And while these themes often show up in my work, I know humans rarely fit neatly into categories - most people arrive with a mix of experiences, questions, and emotions that deserve space and understanding.

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and my Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, from St. Edward’s University. My education and clinical training shape the lens I bring into the room, helping me understand both the inner world of the individual and the systems we move through.

Whenever you’re ready, my door is open - let’s do the dang thing.