More about Christina
Therapist, Advocate, & Chronic Illness Warrior
Hi, I’m Christina P. Kantzavelos (LCSW, MSW, MLIS, CTA). As a neurodivergent, first-generation clinician, author, and chronic illness warrior, I bring both professional expertise and personal understanding to my work.
With over 14 years of clinical experience across hospital telemetry, psychiatric units, emergency rooms, and private practice, I specialize in treating complex trauma, chronic health conditions, and life’s major transitions.
“Healing isn’t just my profession—it’s my lived experience.”
Degrees & Licensure: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Welfare (MSW) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Master's degree in Library and Information Sciences from San Jose State University (SJSU)
Author & Innovator: Creator of the internationally sold Begin Within, a daily healing journals.
Community & Advocacy: Board Member for the San Diego Lyme Alliance (Bay Area Lyme Foundation affiliate) and group support facilitator.
Why Travel Matters to Me
Travel has changed me time and time again—teaching me to be more conscious, grateful, curious, and wise.
Staying in one place can isolate us, feeding fear and stigma around what is unfamiliar. Traveling forces us—in the best way—to step into someone else’s culture, traditions, and cuisine. In doing so, we realize that people who seem so different are not so different after all.
The most priceless souvenirs you bring home aren't physical objects; they are cultural competence, deep gratitude, wisdom, and empathy. Travel is something that must be kinesthetically experienced, and I look forward to sharing that journey with you.
As always, Buen Camino,
Christina P. Kantzavelos