Christine Penguino

Christine Penguino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Atlanta, Georgia with seven years of professional experience. She holds a Georgia LCSW credential - license number CSW008503 - and has worked across the lifespan, from play therapy with young children to grief counseling with grandparents. In recent years her practice has concentrated on supporting families in the LGTBQIA+ community as they navigate a range of concerns.

Her personal philosophy centers on finding humor and living passionately. She identifies as a big nerd who enjoys science fiction and fantasy, including Aasimov’s Foundation series, and she has strong opinions about Apple’s adaption. Outside of work she attends regional Burning Man events, makes art from thrift store Barbies, gardens despite not being very good at it, and generally dislikes most holidays while enjoying playful meme-sharing. She also likes board games, puzzles, and conventions, and when she needs to slow down she watches her tank of guppies and ghost shrimp to help her relax.

In therapy Christine is lifestyle-affirming and nonjudgmental. She is kink and BDSM lifestyle friendly and supportive of ethically non-monogamous relationships such as polyamory. She has experience helping people process intracultural shifts, including transitions away from conservative religious backgrounds and the adjustments that follow.

Christine works with issues related to self esteem and body positivity and has substantial experience with non-neurotypical clients, including those with autism spectrum and ADHD diagnoses. She also addresses anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and abuse, relationship concerns, parenting, grief, and career-related matters.

Her clinical approach is client goal-directive - she believes most people know where they want to go and benefit from a therapist who gently pushes the edge of their comfort zone. Therapy with her is intended to promote forward movement without unnecessary pain. She often collaborates with clients to design practical “homework” to try between sessions as a way to observe and measure progress; if an assignment isn’t completed, that becomes useful information about readiness, motivation, or obstacles. For her, therapy is about learning rather than grades.

If a reader is still engaged, Christine welcomes the opportunity to begin a collaborative therapy journey together.