MEET CHRISTINE

A Depth-Oriented Therapist In Chicago

She/Her
I make room for the parts of you that feel tangled, unspoken, or quietly reaching for something more.

I’m Christine Weible-Cruz, LCSW — a bilingual, depth-oriented psychotherapist. I work with individuals and couples to loosen what’s been standing between them and closeness, clarity, and a fuller sense of emotional freedom, always at a pace that honors who you are.

MY PATH HERE

My path to this work has been anything but linear.

Before I became a therapist, I spent years in the worlds of art, language, and culture — studying, living abroad, and working as an art museum educator, where I helped people find their own meaning in what they saw. What drew me in then is what drives my work now: a fascination with stories and their power to change us.

What hurts usually has something to tell us.

That curiosity led me into social work and, eventually, into depth-oriented psychoanalytic practice. I kept returning to one question — not just what someone feels, but why — and to a belief that lasting change happens in relationships, both with a therapist and with yourself.

My bilingual background also shapes how I listen, with an ear for what gets lost in translation and what surfaces in the spaces between. I offer therapy in both English and Spanish.

What I Believe

“People come to therapy hoping for more than relief from symptoms — a deeper sense of aliveness, and what I think of as emotional freedom. I believe the patterns that quietly shape a life can be understood and gently changed, and that this happens through honest, curious relationships: the one we build together, and the one you have with yourself. The trust that brings you here is something I hold with great care.”

HOW I WORK

A few threads woven into every session.

No two people arrive for the same reasons, so I shape the work around you. I draw on three traditions, each a different way of reaching underneath the surface to what’s actually fueling the struggle — and then helping you build something different.

Psychoanalytic Insight

Together we trace a feeling back to where it began — the early relationships and protective habits that have quietly shaped how you move through the world.

Emotionally Focused Therapy

For individuals and couples, EFT helps us understand the emotions underneath conflict and distance, so closeness, safety, and trust can grow.

The Gottman Method

Grounded, research-based tools for couples — practical ways to communicate, repair, and rebuild connections that last.

WHO I WORK WITH

All of you is welcome here.

Whatever your faith, culture, orientation, gender, ability, or history, there’s a place for you in my practice. Every kind of partnership is welcome here — queer, straight, monogamous, polyamorous, and all the arrangements that don’t fit a tidy label.

Adult individuals navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or life transitions
Couples and partnerships of all kinds — traditional and non-traditional
Spanish-speaking clients seeking therapy in their first language
Immigrants seeking asylum, through forensic psychological evaluations
People struggling with thoughts of suicide, through specialized CAMS-trained care

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Room to show up as your whole, in-progress self.

An unhurried, non-judging place to put words to what’s been hard to name
Sessions that follow your body’s pace rather than pushing past it
Warmth and straightforwardness together, so you feel both held and respected
A steadier trust in your own judgment as the work unfolds

Relief matters — but lasting change is what we’re really reaching for.

IS THIS A GOOD FIT?

Finding the right match matters

The relationship between us is what makes therapy work, so it’s worth being honest about where I can help most — and where someone else might serve you better.

You might feel at home here if…

You want to understand the root of a pattern, not only manage its symptoms
You’re curious about yourself, even the parts that feel stuck or contradictory
You’re moving through anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or a tender life transition
You and your partner want to feel close again — in any kind of relationship
You’d value a bilingual therapist and the option of working in English or Spanish

I may not be the right match if…

You’re looking for quick, structured, symptom-only coaching
You need a provider who is in-network with your insurance (I work out-of-network, with superbills available so you can seek reimbursement from your plan)
You live outside Illinois, where I’m licensed to practice
You’re in crisis or need urgent care — in that case, please call or text 988, or call 911

BACKGROUND & TRAINING

Education & credentials

Education

Master of Social Work — Loyola University Chicago, 2020 (Mental Health Specialization; Migration Studies Sub-specialization)
MA, Latin American & Caribbean Studies — New York University, 2010 (Advanced Certificate, Museum Studies)
BA, Art History & Spanish, cum laude — St. Olaf College, 2007

Psychoanalytic Training

Psychoanalytic Certificate Program — Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy (Candidate, 2025–present)
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificate Program — Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy (2023–2025)
Fellowship Program — Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy (2020–2023)
Forensic Asylum Evaluation Training — Midwest Human Rights Consortium

Licensure & Certifications

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) — State of Illinois
CAMS-Trained — Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (links to the CAMS page)
Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics — Phase 1 Training Certification, 2020
Languages — Fluent in Spanish (speaking, reading, and writing)

Clinical Experience

CWC Psychotherapy — Psychotherapist, 2024–present
Group private practice — Psychotherapist & forensic evaluator, 2020–2024
Hospital psychiatry — Clinical Social Work Trainee
Federal diversion court — Social Work Advocate, SOAR Court

Professional Affiliations: NASW · Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy · Psychotherapy Action Network (Psian) · APA Division 39 (Psychoanalysis) · AAPCSW

BEYOND THE OFFICE

A little about the person across from you

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me out on a long walk with my dogs, deep in a novel or a good show or film, catching up with friends, or planning a trip somewhere new. That same curiosity about other people, places, languages, and stories is what shaped my path into this work.

GETTING STARTED IS EASY

How we begin together

Three simple steps, with no pressure at any point along the way.

Book a Free Video Consult. On a relaxed video call, tell me what you’re hoping for and ask me anything about how I work and what to expect.

Decide Together. If we both feel it’s a good fit, we’ll schedule your first session — in person or by teletherapy.

Your First Session. Unhurried and led by you: we’ll talk about whatever’s on your mind, from your history to how it feels to be starting therapy. Together, we begin co-creating a safe, creative space you can return to throughout our ongoing work.

A FEW QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your therapeutic approach?

I weave together psychoanalytic thinking, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and the Gottman Method, adjusting the blend to fit you. The aim is both genuine insight and changes you can feel in daily life.

Who do you work with?

Adults — on their own and in relationships of every configuration, conventional or not. Clients of all faiths, cultures, orientations, genders, abilities, and backgrounds are welcome.

Do you offer therapy in Spanish, or by telehealth?

Yes to both. I’m fluent in Spanish and offer sessions in either language, in person in downtown Chicago or through secure telehealth. To work together, you must reside in Illinois.

What are your fees, and do you take insurance?

Sessions are $200 for individuals and $225 for couples, due at the time of session. I’m an out-of-network provider and don’t bill insurance directly, but each month I provide a superbill you can submit to your plan for possible reimbursement of out-of-network benefits.

Let’s turn toward what’s been waiting underneath.

If you’re ready to move toward deeper connection and a little more room to breathe, I’d be glad to walk alongside you. Book a free consultation and we’ll take it from there.