Christina Bell, LPC; Owner

Hi! I’m Christina Bell, a licensed professional counselor. I believe in the ability to change and become who you want to be.

If you’re feeling unfulfilled, worried, sad, or dread the moment you open your eyes in the morning, then you have come to the right place. I am here to help you get unstuck.

Whether you are facing difficulties in relationships, unhelpful thought patterns, life changes, or need support navigating the waters of grief, I am here to walk alongside empowering you to overcome these challenges..

I left a group practice to open PorchLight Mental Wellness because I wanted to be able to help people without constraints. I believe in connecting others to resources, group support, and providing collaborative pathways through other modalities of healing. I believe in whole body wellness.

My Story

My love for therapy began when I was about 7. My favorite shows on repeat were Annie, Punky Brewster, and Pippi Longstalking. Looking back, I think I was drawn to their strong female characters-their resilience, independence, and ability to find their way through a difficult circumstance while still having a little fun. I've always been curious about people, their stories, and what helps us overcome the challenges that life brings.

My own experiences navigating anxiety during adolescence sparked an early interest in psychology and a desire to better understand how people grow through difficult seasons. I took my first psychology class in high school and knew I had found something meaningful to me.

Life, however, didn't follow a perfectly straight path. I became a young mother, which brough tremendous joy as well as challenges and responsibilities I hadn't anticipated. Those years taught me a great deal about resilience, identity, relationships, and the complicated balance between caring for the people we love and continue to grow into the person we are becoming.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from UW-Parkside before the birth of my third child. After taking some time away from school to focus on my family and to help with a parent battling a terminal illness, I returned to graduate school following the birth of my fourth child.

I earned my master’s degree in professional counseling from Concordia University while working and raising four children. It wasn't always easy, but the experience strengthened my belief that growth doesn't have to happen on a perfect timeline. Sometimes the most meaningful changes happen while we are navigating real life-parenthood, relationships, loss, uncertainty, career changes, and unexpected new chapters.

Today, those experiences influence the way I practice therapy. I believe people need a space where they can be honest, feel understood, and also be challenged to move toward meaningful change. My approach is warm, practical, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that people are capable of creating lives that feel more authentic and fulfilling.

Outside of the therapy room, I believe strongly in having a life that feels full. I love kayaking-especially on rivers-traveling and experiencing different cultures, gardening, and spending time with my family. I'm also a wife, mom, and grandmother. And at home you'll often find our incredibly sweet and slightly mischievous Sheepadoodle keeping everyone entertained.

Therapy is an opportunity to better understand where you've been, reconnect with who you are, and intentionally decide where you want to go next. You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes you just need a place to start.