Christina Ricciuti earned her first degree, a BA in economics from the University of Western Ontario, she then transferred to York University to pursue her Honours BA in Psychology. Realizing that this was where her interests lay, she then entered graduate studies in Psychology. Christina earned her Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology from York University, with her primary area of research and clinical practice studying how children with autism spectrum disorders learn and remember information. She then earned a Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology. Again, Christina’s research focus was on language and its role in learning and behaviour, this time studying children with a variety of disruptive behaviour disorders. Throughout her university studies, Christina spent time working in classrooms for children with severe developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, as well as worked privately for families doing intensive one-on-one IBI therapy with children with severe autism. With an interest in children with a variety of developmental, learning, and psychiatric disorders, Christina spent 3 years at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry (now called the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, or CAMH) in the children’s day treatment program, where she conducted her doctoral research and received intensive clinical training. Christina then spent 3 years at the Chedoke Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, in the Child & Family Studies Centre and the Infant-Parent Program, doing both her pre-doctoral internship and post doctoral training. Here Christina worked with families of infants, she helped develop a parent training manual, and worked with children, adolescents and families with a variety of needs.
Following her training, Christina was a Psychologist on the 0-6 team at Halton Child and Youth Services (HCYS; now the Reach Out Centre for Kids, or ROCK). While at HCYS, Christina earned her license from the College of Psychologists of Ontario for Independent Practice, with a specialization in children, adolescents and families. At HCYS, Christina conducted assessments on young children with a variety of developmental, learning, attentional, behavioural and emotional needs, including autism. She also conducted specialized assessments for youth fire-setters, ran parenting groups in the community, and provided training to professionals in the community.
Christina moved into a private practice in Oakville 5 years ago with a colleague, where she continues to work providing a high level of service to families. She has been actively involved in conducting thorough psychological assessments, providing psychological consultation, providing individual psychotherapy and family therapy to children and families with a variety of clinical presentations. Her approach to therapy is a combination of evidence-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), solution focused therapy, and systems therapy.
Christina has three school-aged children who keep her very busy when she is not working. Her children are the primary reason for Christina’s move into private practice, so that she could maintain a flexible work schedule and be actively involved in her children’s day-to-day activities.