Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Baker.
Christina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m from a small town in western Massachusetts, where not much happens. But what happened to our family changed the trajectory of my life. At age two, my baby sister suddenly stopped talking, making eye contact, and engaging with her twin brother. It seemingly happened overnight. Being in middle school at the time, I didn’t understand what happened to her. Our lives became full of appointments and having strangers in our home to work with her. And then, the diagnosis. Prior to the age of three, my sister was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I watched like a fly on the wall as the psychologist told my mother the potential etiologies and prognosis for this insidious disorder. ASD is a developmental disorder encompassing symptoms of social affect difficulties and cognitive or behavioral preoccupations. At that time, however, little was known and not many individuals were diagnosed, so the news wasn’t necessarily positive. The impact of that initial conversation with the psychologist shaped the path sister took in treatment, a plan that eventually led her to drive her own car, working independently, and attending college; she basically saved my sister from a life of being nonverbal and isolated. I knew then that was what I wanted to be, a clinical psychologist. I was 17 years old.
From that point forward, I set out on a dedicated path to my dream, but it wasn’t easy. My family had no money, as the average cost of raising a child with special needs often exceeds a million dollars. I worked two to three jobs while taking a full course load in my undergraduate studies at the University of New England. I then traveled to Florida to complete a doctorate in psychology. I had gotten into my dream school, where I could learn from and help individuals with autism at the Scott Center for Autism Research and Treatment. Sure, I still had to work jobs while taking classes, completing the practicum, and writing a dissertation; however, I was living my passion. And after 9 years of school, my path still wasn’t complete. I worked for two and a half years to complete 3000 hours of pre and post-doctoral supervised professional experience before I could apply for licensure. I am humbled to say that 12 years later, I am officially a licensed psychologist in the state of California, assisting families find paths for their children and walking it alongside them. I couldn’t help my sister, but I can continue to honor her in each child I am lucky enough to cross paths with.
Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest challenge I ever faced was myself. I have long since lived in a narrative where I never believed myself to be “good enough.” This applied to whatever role I was in, as a daughter, a sister, a partner, a teammate, a student. Having this core belief, I often filtered external information through a negative lens, finding evidence to support and feed the belief. The cycle of negative thoughts feeding a negative core view of myself created a propensity towards self-fulfilling prophecies. I would tell myself I wasn’t a good student, and then I wouldn’t study and would fail a test. I could then tell myself, “See? You are not good enough to do this whole college thing.” This was really hard to overcome, as it was rooted in generational challenges my family has had as a life long blue-collar workers. I had to look deep in myself and challenge the core beliefs that had taken hold of my dreams. How? Lots of therapy, lots of self-reflection, and lots of pieces of humble pie! It’s not a perfect science; I still doubt myself some mornings. During those days, I try to think of just one patient that has gotten a little better in our work together, and it keeps me going. If we continue to doubt ourselves, how can we expect anyone to believe in us? It starts with you, it always did and always will.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I currently work as a clinical psychologist across two diverse settings. My primary position is with Sharp Mesa Vista’s Child Partial Hospitalization Program. Our team provides comprehensive and intensive day treatment to children ages six through twelve. The children requiring this level of care are those who are having significant difficulty maintaining adequate functioning in school, at home, or with peer groups. The program is designed to assist children with a myriad of presenting concerns to more effectively cope with negative emotions and experiences, improve familial relationships and support, communicate needs and wants, plan for safety, and navigate social situations.
My secondary position is with San Diego Brainworks, a private practice located in Sorrento Valley. My focus within the practice is to provide comprehensive psychological testing to assist families in differential diagnoses and treatment planning. In this position, I try to create and walk the path to healing with my patients and their families.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
As women in the healthcare industry, I think we are inclined to give more than we may have in our inner reserves. It is vital to set appropriate professional and personal boundaries early on, despite how uncomfortable that may be to do. This is true for those in authority, co-workers, and our patients. You also cannot give the best of yourself if you’re working from an empty cup. Self-care in your personal and professional life is an often forgotten tool that we all need to sharpen and use to promote well-being. If we can take care of ourselves and establish healthy boundaries, we can prevent burn-out and flourish in our work lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sharp.com/hospitals/mesa-vista/programs/child-teen.cfm; https://www.sdbrainworks.com/
- Email: drbaker@sdbrainworks.com
Image Credit:
Ryan Sweeney
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