Christina Wilke-Burbach’s path from traditional clinical psychology to holistic and spiritual healing is one of profound personal transformation, mystical experience, and unwavering dedication to the soul’s journey. With over two decades of experience and a PhD in Health Psychology, Christina blends science with spirit, offering clients an intuitive, integrative approach rooted in Transpersonal Psychology, energy medicine, and the metaphysical. In this interview for Mystic Mag, she opens up about the life-changing moments that led her to embrace a more expansive view of healing—and how her own recovery journey continues to shape the way she supports others in theirs.
What moment or experience led you to leave Western psychology and fully embrace holistic and spiritual healing practices?
There were a few scenarios that contributed to this. In 2007/2008 I was working in an inpatient drug and alcohol hospital. Almost all of my patients had dual diagnosis- drug and alcohol problems as well as mental health diagnosis such as depression and anxiety. On Fridays we had aromatherapy and guided meditation groups. The hospital also offered the M-technique to patients, a touch therapy. I saw how powerful the impact of these alternative modalities were on the patients’ mental and emotional health and how much they enjoyed the treatments.
This largely led me to leave this job so I could found my business Mind, Soul, and Self LLC in January 2009. In 2009 I also decided to go back to school to get my PhD in Clinical Psychology (I had a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology at the time). One of the classes I decided to take was Holistic Psychology. The main textbook for the class was Psychology of the Future by Stan Grof MD, PhD. Dr. Grof is the founder of the field of Transpersonal Psychology.
This book blew my mind and changed my life and my whole trajectory. I changed my PhD from Clinical Psychology to Health Psychology (Mind/Body Psychology) after taking this class. While I was taking this class I also had a spiritual/unexplainable experience when my grandfather was dying that shifted my way of thinking and led me to fully embrace Transpersonal Psychology: experiences above and beyond the ego. My grandfather had a major stroke and was on life support in the hospital.
I was in the hospital room when they disconnected him from life support. All of a sudden the door to his hospital room opened and no one physical was there, but I felt a large energy presence move past me, his heart monitor started beeping as he had flatlined and died, the energy moved past me again and then the door shut. I believe I experienced my ancestors and loved ones coming to greet him and take his soul to the afterlife. I was never the same after and deep dove into spirituality. In 2012 I went to California to do a weekend retreat with Stan Grof and have taken a number of classes with him since.
I have additional education and training in Transpersonal Psychology (Holotropic techniques, Psychonautics, Spiritual Emergencies, Shamanic Approaches, Death and Dying, Plant Medicine, Archetypal Astrology), and have attended workshops, trainings, and classes with Dr. Stan Grof MD, PhD co-founder of the field of Transpersonal Psychology and his late wife, Christina Grof PhD, through Grof Transpersonal Training, The Shift Network, and Wisdom University.
From Psychology Today: “Unlike most forms of psychotherapy that concentrate on improving mental health, transpersonal therapy takes a more holistic approach, addressing mental, physical, social, emotional, creative, and intellectual needs, with an emphasis on the role of a healthy spirit in healing. To facilitate healing and growth, transpersonal therapy places great emphasis on honesty, open-mindedness, and self-awareness on the part of the therapist as well as the client.
Transpersonal therapy is used to treat anxiety, depression, addictions, phobias, and other mood and behavioral problems. Those who are open to exploring their spiritual side, becoming more spiritually aware, or finding a spiritual path, or who are having trouble finding meaning in their life, may benefit from transpersonal therapy.
Transpersonal therapists use meditation, guided visualization, hypnotherapy, dream work, art, music, journaling, mindfulness practices, and other techniques that can help you explore your spiritual self and create meaning in your life. With the therapist’s guidance, you will find, build, and expand on your inner strengths and resources to create a more balanced life and a healthier state of mind.
How do you integrate intuitive insight with scientific research in your work with clients and students?
I strongly believe in science and research, both quantitative research and qualitative (observation research). In college, I was a research assistant in the Alcohol Studies Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I have several published research studies, and I worked as a Research Supervisor in a graduate Psychology program for students conducting research in the realm of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. I believe in Integration of Western Medicine with Natural/Complimentary Medicine with Spirituality. To me, this is true Holistic Care.
As defined by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health, integrative medicine “combines mainstream medical therapies and CAM therapies for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness.”
Integrative medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.
The principles of integrative medicine:
• A partnership between patient and practitioner in the healing process
• Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response
• Consideration of all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind, spirit and community as well as body
• A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically
• Recognition that good medicine should be based in good science, be inquiry driven, and be open to new paradigms
• Use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible
• Use of the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as the treatment of disease
• Training of practitioners to be models of health and healing, committed to the process of self-exploration and self-development
I believe no modality is perfect and can address everything. Blending modalities together is how we best serve our clients.
With your diverse background—from aromatherapy to transpersonal psychology—how do you determine the right healing modality for each person?
I view the world through a Transpersonal (Spiritual) Psychology framework. Each individual is a unique unity of mind, emotions, heart, body, and soul. Respect is given to the entire person, all possibilities of being, and experiences that are beyond the ordinary, ego, personality, and self.
My appointments do not have a cookie-cutter set format. It is all intuitively guided and unique to each client and situation. Appointments often combine multiple modalities together. The main service I offer is Spiritual Psychology and then I blend other modalities into my counseling technique: intuitive readings (Tarot, Oracle, Astrology, Palmistry), energy medicine, Reiki, mind/body medicine (hypnosis, guided meditation), and plant medicine (aromatherapy and herbs). You do not need to know what service you want or need in order to make an appointment with me because it’s all Spiritual Psychology!!
I am a consultant, educator, spiritual counselor, and holistic healing facilitator with 26 years of experience and education in natural health, psychology, magick, death and dying, and spirituality. I specialize in death/dying, spiritual awakening, shadow work, intuitive readings, and personal growth for the modern mystic! I aim to create a safe space and spiritual empowerment for Awakening Women, non-binary individuals, and transgender women. Feminine energy needs a safe and sacred space free from the patriarchy to heal, be authentic, share their journey, discuss metaphysical, esoteric, magickal, deep spiritual topics, and evolve your soul without fear of being judged or ridiculed. I normalize psychic abilities, mysticism, magick, Transpersonal Experiences, and alternative spiritual beliefs.
The majority of my clients are empaths, intuitives, energy sensitive, psychics, mediums, healers, lightworkers, modern mystics, shamans, medicine women, witches, pagans, deeply spiritual individuals, and individuals experiencing a spiritual awakening. I uses holistic approaches that treat the whole person. I do not practice western psychology, psychotherapy, psychological counseling, or psychiatry; I do not give diagnosis or labels or provide psychological treatment. I am not a medical doctor, licensed psychologist or mental health therapist, and do not accept insurance. I am a modern mystic and spiritual counselor; combining psychology, spirituality, metaphysics, magick, and intuition into my healing appointments.
I have a PhD in Health Psychology, Training in Transpersonal Psychology, a Masters Degree in Psychology, a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology, a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and a minor in Sociology, is an ordained minister, Reiki Master Teacher, and a High Priestess, but am an Alternative Medicine Provider, Holistic Healing Facilitator, Consultant, and Educator, not a behavioral health counselor or psychotherapist. My services can greatly complement Western psychological, counseling, psychiatric, and social work services clients may be receiving. Holistic Healing can also be a great alternative to traditional counseling and traditional mental health care. Think of me as an alternative counselor.
My experience working in the Western mental health and psychology field and her own personal healing experience has taught me that talk therapies and medications do not work for everyone and healing occurs at a deeper level. Western Psychology also fails to acknowledge the spiritual and transcendent aspects of the psyche. In my healing appointments, I utilize a combination of energy medicine, counseling, chakra psychology, spirituality, Transpersonal Psychology, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, artwork, music, movement, intuitive readings, mind/body techniques, and natural health consultation. In individual session with clients, I can best address:
- Death and Dying
- Preplanning Your Death and Funeral Services
- Grief and Loss
- Major Life Changes and Life Transitions
- Feeling lost, confused, and/or unbalanced
- Twin Flames, Soul Mates, Soul Groups, and Spirit Guide Relationships
- Individuals seeking wellness, life purpose, meaning, understanding, transformation, enlightenment, spiritual development, and personal growth.
- Individuals sensitive to others’ energy (Empaths)
- Spiritual Awakenings and Spiritual Emergence
- Intuitive/Psychic Awakening
- Psychic Development
- Individuals having psychic, mystical, and unexplainable experiences
- Stress, burnout, fatigue, & exhaustion
- Depression, Anxiety, Mood Imbalance
- Grief & Loss
- Emotional Concerns
- Substance Abuse
- Relationship Concerns, Family Concerns, Parenting Concerns
- Career Concerns & Guidance on Career Path and Life Purpose
Over the past two years I have moved largely into the realm of deathcare (DEATH AND DYING). I knew that was where I would professionally end up, but I got there a lot quicker than I anticipated. In July 2023 I started working fulltime as a family service counselor at a cemetery. I work with families that have experienced a loss and help them plan the funeral on the cemetery side of things. I also help people get their ducks in a row and preplan their funeral arrangements. I assist families with immediate at need and preplanning for deathcare, cemetery property, burial estates. We are an interfaith cemetery. We offer a variety of burial services, including traditional casket burial, cremation burial, entombment, mausoleum, crypt, columbarium, cremation niches, cremation benches, private family estates, and private mausoleums.
Memorialization services (markers, uprights, monuments, benches, trees, cameos, and stained-glass windows), etc. Mind, Soul, and Self LLC’s journey has mirrored my personal journey and myself personally and professionally both through the cemetery and my business Mind, Soul, and Self LLC specialize in the dead, death, dying, and the afterlife. I am a death witch, death doula, and deathwalker and offer services in this realm through my business that compliment my job at the cemetery:
- Preplanning Death Services and End of Life Consultation, Planning, & Organizing
- Assistance Writing Your Obituary
- Assistance with Preplanning Cemetery and Funeral Services
- Memorial Services and Planning of Celebration of Life/Funerals
- Legacy Projects
- Death Rituals, Death Rites, Death Blessings, & Last Rites
- Energy Work and Release of luminous energy field
- Assistance with Life review, Purpose of Life, Forgiveness, Life Lessons.
- Past life regression
- Soul retrieval
- Creating a living will and disposal of personal objects client does not want family to know about. These private things may include diaries, deeply personal writings and correspondence, magical tools and ritual objects, and other personal items. Someone trusted should be enlisted to remove them.
- Creation of Momento Mori
- Letters to loved ones
- Ancestral Work
- Death Astrological Charts
- Seances and Spirit Communication
- Exorcism
- Breaking and removal of curses
- Clearing houses and properties
Can you share how your personal recovery journey has shaped the way you approach holistic wellness and support others in theirs?
I struggled with drugs and alcohol, depression and anxiety my late teens into my early 20s. On April 30, 2005 I went to a Beltane Celebration and got so intoxicated that I had a near death experience and almost died. After several years of self-exploration and spiritual study, I believe I had a walk-in experience.
I had been court ordered to drug and alcohol treatment and had tried group counseling and treatment previously and it did not work for me. But whatever metaphysical experience I had the last day I ever drank changed me at the soul level. As of May 1, 2025 I will celebrate 20 years of recovery and being clean and sober.
My own experience has taught me that we can heal from our deepest wounds and that anyone and everyone can heal if they really want to. Healing is hard work. We have to establish a whole new way of being. I saw a psychologist my first year of recovery for individual therapy. While the talk therapy was helpful, it had major limitations. Talk therapies, medications, and conventional treatments do not work for everyone as healing often needs to occur at a deeper level. Many times talk therapies and medications are Band-Aids and do not get to the root of the problem. Some healing providers, as a consequence of their training, overlook the fact that clients consist of mind, body, energy, and spirit.
The Biomedicine approach fails to acknowledge the spiritual, energetic, and transcendent aspects of the individual. We all have the potential to heal, no matter how deep our wounds may be. Powerful methods of psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing are largely non-verbal; art, music, dance, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, feelings, and patterns; we communicate this without words. Art, music, and dance are gateways to the unconsciousness and can facilitate deep healing, self-awareness, and transcendence. Music, art, and dance are doorways deep into the psyche/consciousness to facilitate healing.
On my own I discovered yoga, aromatherapy, meditation, spirituality, herbal medicine, and art. These were instrumental in my recovery. I became angry at my psychologist and at Western Psychology in general that they never suggested these modalities and made it my mission to promote these therapies in my business.
What do you believe is the most overlooked yet powerful method for psychological healing that conventional therapy often misses?
Meditation and Mind/Body Medicine! I actually have published research in this area (meditation and moving meditation -yoga, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi). Meditation is the best known and most researched form of Mind/Body Medicine. Some have argued there is enough research to move meditation from alternative medicine into the mainstream.
Science and research are now starting to support what some people have believed in and practiced for thousands of years, holism; the mind and body are highly related and may be indistinguishable. The belief that disease does not only occur at the cellular level but is a result of interplay between the entire person, mental, spiritual, social, and physical, is not a new concept. Some people have believed this for all of written history. As far back as 500 BC, Hippocrates and other philosophers wrote about the importance of holistic care and that the soul, mind, and body interact.
The mind (stress, depression, anxiety). can make the physical body ill. Since the mind and body are highly connected and perhaps indistinguishable, the mind can also be used to improve the body. Cognitive Interventions supported by research that improve physical health, immune function, lower stress hormone levels, and induce the relaxation response are also known as Mind/Body Medicine and include meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis, breathwork, and biofeedback. These techniques are not used enough in Western Psychology or Western Medicine.
