
Maria Christoff, Ph.D, LP Staff Psychologist/Sex Therapist/Clinical Supervisor
- Pronouns:
- she/they
My practice focuses on survivors of abusive relationships and healing from psychological, emotional, physical, financial, and sexual abuse. I have an in-depth understanding of personality disorders, attachment patterns, and the effects of abuse. I understand that, while childhood experiences and past traumas are important, the current abusive relationship is the primary source of suffering that must be appropriately responded to. My work focuses on healing the attachment traumas caused by abusive relationships.
I serve those who have been traditionally marginalized in mental health settings. I have extensive experience working with people of the global majority, 2SLGBTQIA+ clients, and neurodivergent clients. My therapy practice is affirming of gender identity exploration and poly/kink affirming. I emphasize collaboration, shared goals, strengths, sources of support, and resilience. The intersection of sex-gender diversity and neurodivergence is a focus of my clinical work.
I graduated with a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) in 2020. I have specific competencies in psychoanalytic theory, intervention, assessment, and research. I have been a fully licensed psychologist in the state of Michigan since 2021. I completed my American Psychological Association-approved pre-doctoral internship at Michigan State University Counseling and Psychiatric Services, where I earned a certificate in Multicultural Counseling. I have completed advanced training with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). I completed the U of M School of Social Work Sexual Health Certificate Program in 2024.
I provide supervision for limited license psychologists. My supervision style is collaborative, strengths-based, feminist, and psychodynamic. I have a wide range of competencies in evidence-based practice including neuropsychological assessment. My supervision style strongly focuses on ethical considerations and includes skills building for the emotional self of the therapist, countertransference, frame-setting, scheduling, and managing the financial side of private practice work.