Cristina Spataro

Cristina Spataro is a New York State licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with 18 years of experience. She helps people who are overwhelmed by stress, anger, anxiety, grief, relationship problems, or major life changes. Her style is direct and compassionate, aimed at helping people make sense of difficult choices and regain steadiness in daily life.

She often meets people during big turning points or crisis moments, and also works with those who want help before things get worse. Sessions focus on clear steps people can use between meetings, not only on talking. She encourages practical changes alongside emotional understanding.

Cristina uses Client-Centered Therapy, which means she listens closely and follows each person’s pace and priorities. She also applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps identify unhelpful thoughts and build new coping habits. These approaches are used to address issues such as addiction, trauma and abuse, parenting stress, and self-esteem concerns.

People bring many worries to her work, including career decisions, intimacy-related issues, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and compassion fatigue. She also supports those dealing with abandonment, adoption and foster care questions, caregiver stress, and midlife or life purpose struggles. Sessions are offered in English in New York.

Cristina believes change is possible when someone is ready to work for it. She aims to make therapy straightforward and useful, helping clients find practical ways forward and clearer choices in their lives.

How these approaches shape online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following each person's needs and pace, with the therapist listening closely and reflecting what matters most. This approach helps people feel heard and guides decisions about next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns; it often helps with anxiety, anger, and depression.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose or mix methods based on their goals, strengths, and what feels most useful. That means checking in early and adjusting plans when something isn't working.

Session formats are not specified here, so please confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also make it simpler to maintain continuity of care during life changes. Licensed professionals use these approaches to focus on practical skills and clearer decision-making, whether sessions are done in person or remotely.