As someone who faced many serious medical challenges as a child, Cristina Lugo acquired a sense of resilience, discipline and perseverance early in life.
Lugo was diagnosed with cancer when she was 5 years old, and later suffered a stroke at 17, which she says helped her acquire those traits that have shaped her into the person she is today.
“These qualities have remained central to who I am today and have strongly influenced both my personal outlook and professional path,” Lugo said. “They have deepened my empathy for others facing adversity and strengthened my commitment to supporting individuals through difficult life circumstances.”
Lugo works as a mental health counselor at Thrive Community Support Services in Dayton, where she works with people of all ages, including kids in kindergarten through 12th grade as well as adults. In her work, she focuses primarily on promoting patient well-being and facilitating recovery through therapeutic techniques and interventions.
Previously, Lugo worked at Washington State Penitentiary as an education navigator. She said that while working there, she witnessed the long-term consequences that unresolved trauma can have on a person’s life trajectory.
“That experience gave me a powerful perspective on how early adversity can contribute to later involvement in the justice system,” Lugo said. “In my current role, I feel that I am working on the other side of that process by supporting youth before those patterns become entrenched. Being able to help young people build coping skills, develop resilience and see alternatives for their future is incredibly meaningful to me.”
But some of Lugo’s most impactful career experiences happened outside the counseling realm, when she worked as a tasting room associate at Pepper Bridge Winery. She said the relationships she built there were what helped her truly grow and step out of her shell.
“During my time there, I had the opportunity to learn from Susan Buchanan and Mark Hester, who helped train me and introduce me to the wine industry. It was also where I met Norm and Virginia McKibben, the founders of Pepper Bridge,” Lugo said. “What I appreciated most about Norm was that he never made you feel like you were simply an employee. Instead, he created an environment where everyone felt valued and treated like family. Over time, those connections grew into relationships that I continue to cherish today — they truly feel like family to me.”
A lifelong Walla Walla resident, Lugo earned her master’s degree in forensic psychology in 2013. Now, she is working toward completing her doctorate in psychology and her second doctorate in clinical psychology.
In the future, she hopes to continue working with traumatized youth and other vulnerable populations such as incarcerated individuals. Lugo said that by working with people during critical stages of their lives, she hopes to contribute to stronger families and healthier community outcomes.
“At the same time, the community plays an important role in supporting the work that I do,” Lugo said. “Collaboration with schools, families, community organizations and other professionals allows me to better understand the unique needs of the individuals I serve and to provide more comprehensive support. These partnerships strengthen the effectiveness of mental health services and remind me that meaningful change happens when communities work together to support their most vulnerable members.”