05/31/2026
Therapist Spotlight: Santi (Santrielle) Church, MA, LPC
Professional Background
1. Name & Credentials: Santi (Santrielle) Church, MA, LPC
2. Where did you study? Adler Graduate School, Minnesota
3. What is your current role at Nexus Counseling Services? Licensed Professional Counselor
4. How long have you been working in the mental health field? 8 years, 4 years as a counselor
5. What inspired you to become a mental health professional? The complexity and resilience of human beings has always amazed and fascinated me! People can go through some wild stuff and still make it out on the other side. Our minds are incredibly powerful. I wanted to support people in their growth and in empowering themselves, working with their unique set of circumstances. I have also experienced my own mental health difficulties, and my journey with those influenced my want to help others as well.
6. What are your clinical specialties or areas of passion (e.g., trauma, anxiety, teens, couples)? I love working with anxiety, self-esteem, and trauma, especially relational trauma. I really love helping people learn how to have healthier relationships with themselves and others.
7. What do you love most about being a clinician? It is such an honor to get to hear people’s stories. Even if people have similar diagnoses or struggles, everyone is so incredibly unique. I love getting to provide the safe space for people to explore themselves. It’s beautiful seeing people make progress, learn, and grow and getting to be with them for the ride!
Personal Connection
8. Is there a quote or philosophy that guides your work? There are so many it’s hard to pick just one! I love the idea that everyone has the ability to heal within themselves. I also am a strong believer in our ‘weaknesses’ also being our strengths. Everyone and every behavior makes sense within the person’s context. I also love the concept that you are the most important person in your life/the most important project you will ever work on. The relationship we have with ourselves has such a big influence on everything else in our lives.
9. How do you take care of your own mental health and well-being? I love taking time to be on my own! I consider myself a highly sensitive person, so I need quiet, downtime to unwind. Mindfulness is something that really helps me as well. I try to make sure I am getting outside enough, connecting with others, and listening to my body. I travel when I can, a change in scenery can be really helpful for me. I journal quite a bit as well. I try to make sure I am experiencing and embracing joy in my life, even when times are hard.
10. What’s something your clients have taught you? My clients have taught me how incredibly healing it can be to just be witnessed. Sometimes all you need is loving presence.
11. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about mental health or therapy? I wish more people understood that mental health is just as important as physical health. The complexity of our emotions and thought processes are a big part of what make us human, there’s no shame in this part of us needing some TLC.
Fun & Human Side
12. What’s a fun or surprising fact about you that most people don’t know? I love the Legend of Zelda! I’ve played most of the games, Twilight Princess is probably my favorite though.
13. What’s your go-to coffee/tea order or favorite comfort food? This is such a hard question! I love tea in general. As for comfort food, probably anything with potatoes or cheese. I really love a good, simple grilled cheese with soup.
14. How do you like to spend your time outside of work? Outside of work I love to hang out with my cat, play video games, paint, draw, do game nights with my friends, dance, and be outside!
15. Any favorite book, podcast, or movie you’d recommend to others right now? No Bad Parts is one of my favorite self-help/therapy related books. It completely changed the way I view myself and others.
