Meet Christina Roach

As both a stepmother and biological mother herself, Christina Roach has an 'insider's' understanding of the dynamics which comprise the stepfamily. During her graduate studies, Christina noticed that traditional counseling theories in marital and family therapy mostly overlooked the uniqueness of the stepfamily unit. Having personally experienced the biological family in which she grew up and the stepfamily she is now presently a member, she understands that each is distinct from the other and thus should be approached differently.

Realizing that a gap existed between what academic programs were teaching and the real life experiences of more than half of U.S. homes living in stepfamilies, Christina founded Success for Steps®. It is her hope to raise awareness that the same intervention techniques used for biological families do not necessarily apply to stepfamilies. The stepfamily unit is different so it deserves an approach tailored to meet its specific needs, and ignoring said differences is dismissive of the experiences of individuals who are living in step relationships.

Mission Statement

At Success for Steps®, my passion is to help individuals, couples, and families make their experience in 'step' a successful one. I do this through providing education, awareness, and supportive counseling to help these relationships become stronger and thrive.

Professional Credentials

• Professionally trained Therapist holding a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH11532)
• National Certified Counselor (NCC #260799)
• Stepfamily Master Coach (certified through The Stepfamily Foundation) 
• Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC #906)
• Acknowledged stepfamily provider by the National Stepfamily Resource Center
• Advanced clinical training for working with stepfamilies through the National Stepfamily Resource Center, the Alabama Community Healthy Marriage Initiative, the Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and the Stepfamily Foundation 
• Personally trained by pioneers and leaders in stepfamily work, including Dr. Jeannette Lofas, Dr. Kay Pasley, Dr. Patricia Papernow, and Dr. Scott Browning
• Trained as a Florida Supreme Court Family Law Mediator 
• Trained as a Parenting Coordinator in the state of Florida
• Noted expert on stepfamily dynamics and has been recognized nationally in both broadcast and print media
• Worked as an approved facilitator in Florida's Batterers' Intervention Program
• Volunteered as a Guardian in the Guardian ad Litem Program in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Tampa, FL
• Member of Chi Sigma Iota, International Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society
• Recipient of the Cecil Cheek Psychology Award 2007
• Completed internship residency and employment at Northside Community Mental Health Center in Tampa where Christina gained invaluable experience working with diverse populations consisting of children, adolescents, and adults presenting with a range of psychosocial and mental health concerns
• Having previously worked in the business world, Christina understands 'real world' stressors and the balancing act many people face in trying to manage a career, family life, and personal pursuits; add the unique dynamics of a stepfamily and this equation gets that much more difficult.

From her advanced training and experience in the field, Christina uses evidence-based techniques when working with clients. Given her credentials as a mental health provider and a specialist in stepfamily issues, Christina is better able to meet her clients' needs and help them move towards their identified goals. 

Christina's commitment to her clients

Taking a solution-focused approach, Christina works collaboratively with clients in order to help them discover solutions that will work in their lives. It is important to note that Christina has many clients with concerns unrelated to stepfamilies, including divorce; women's issues, self-esteem issues; life transitions; GLBT issues; stress and anger management; and personal growth. She offers a FREE Initial Consultation for potential new clients.

"My commitment to you, my client, is to work with you in finding solutions that will work in your own personal life. I want to gain a clear understanding as to what is going on in your life. I do this by listening, really listening, to your stories. I collaborate with you in exploring possible solutions/insights and I offer my perspective as to what I see is going on.

The therapist-client relationship is a nonjudgmental one as I work to provide a safe, confidential, and comfortable environment in which thoughts and feelings may be freely explored. I truly enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families as I believe therapy is a gift we can give ourselves. And while the process may be difficult at times, I am honored to accompany you on this journey."

Community Involvement

In addition to providing counseling services, Christina offers workshops and seminars and is involved in many professional organizations, including the American Counseling Association (ACA).

Prior to founding Success for Steps®, Christina worked exclusively with corporate executives in helping them present business mandates to both internal and external audiences. Her expertise was in helping these professionals communicate their messages both accurately and eloquently. Today, she does this same thing with her clients as she assists them in working through concerns and in realizing the life they wish to lead.

Contact Christina Roach at christina@successforsteps.com or call 813-784-8952.