Christine Raake

I support clients who are navigating challenges related to self-esteem, anxiety, perfectionism, relationships, and intimacy. Many of the clients I work with appear to be managing well on the outside, while internally experiencing pressure, self-doubt, and the constant feeling that they need to do more, be more, or prove their worth. These patterns can show up as difficulty setting boundaries, prioritizing yourself, trusting your decisions, or feeling disconnected from your own needs and desires.

In my work with clients, I have found that these struggles often develop as understandable responses to expectations, relationships, and trauma. When you have spent years striving for approval, validation, security, and safety within relationships, it can be difficult to recognize your own worth separate from what you can do for others, how you appear, what you accomplish, or the trauma you have endured. The constant pressure to avoid mistakes, rejection, or abandonment can influence the way you connect with others and the extent to which you feel safe, valued, and accepted in relationships.

The foundation of my approach is creating a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you do not have to perform, prove, or have everything figured out. Therapy is a place where you can explore your experiences with curiosity and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. Together, we work to process the different pieces of your story that contribute to your current struggles and develop strategies that support healthier thoughts, behaviours, and ways of relating to yourself and others.

I strive to provide a sex-positive space for individuals to explore sexuality, intimacy, and their relationship with themselves and others. Sexuality is a meaningful part of the human experience and can influence our sense of identity, connection, and fulfillment. I support clients in navigating concerns related to sexual trauma, shame, body image, intimacy, desire, and communication while creating a space where these experiences can be explored with compassion and without judgment.