Christina Orfanakos

Christina is passionate about supporting first responders who dedicate their lives to protecting, serving, and caring for others. She understands the unique challenges that can come with these roles, including exposure to trauma, cumulative stress, operational stress injuries, burnout, hypervigilance, emotional disconnection, relationship strain, and the difficulty of transitioning between work and home life.

Her work is grounded in attachment theory with a strong appreciation for how early life experiences shape our identities, influence how we perceive ourselves, and affect our ability to navigate present-day challenges. Christina recognizes that while first responders often develop remarkable resilience and strength, the demands of the profession can make it difficult to process experiences, access emotions, or prioritize their own wellbeing.

The foundation of Christina’s practice is centred on connection. She creates a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where clients can step out of “work mode,” feel understood, and openly explore their experiences without fear of judgment. Christina helps clients understand behavioural patterns, process difficult emotions, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with themselves outside of their professional roles.

Christina is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and frequently incorporates this approach into her work with first responders. EMDR can help individuals process traumatic experiences, reduce distress related to critical incidents, and address the cumulative impact of repeated exposure to stressful and overwhelming events. Her approach is always tailored to the individual, moving at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

She truly believes meaningful change can occur when clients feel heard, understood, and supported, and that healing does not require someone to carry the weight of their experiences alone.