About Christine
Christine Sumner is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California. She brings 24 years of experience to conversations about relationships, identity, trauma, grief, and self-worth.
Background and approach
Christine focuses on listening first and tailoring each session to the person in front of her. She aims to make the first steps into therapy feel manageable and direct.
Her approach is practical and person-centered. She uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow the client’s pace and priorities.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different actions. Emotionally-Focused Therapy supports understanding and shifting the emotions that drive relationship patterns.
Christine also draws on Narrative Therapy to help people rethink the stories they tell about themselves. Solution-Focused Therapy is used to identify small, concrete changes that move things forward.
Together, these methods give options for both short-term problem solving and deeper change. Sessions are shaped to each person’s needs and comfort level.
Christine aims to be respectful and sensitive to identity and life experience. She works to create space for practical skills, emotional processing, and clearer choices.
If someone is nervous about starting therapy, Christine encourages a simple first step: reach out, answer a short questionnaire, and schedule a session. From there she and the client decide how to proceed.
How Christine’s Approaches Work Online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following the client’s lead. The therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps the person set goals they care about. This approach is helpful for people needing support with identity, grief, or figuring out next steps.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. In sessions Christine and the client identify patterns, try small experiments, and track what changes. This method is useful for anxiety, low mood, and improving everyday coping.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Christine will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and comfort. She checks in about what is helping and adjusts the plan as needed.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people use visual cues during conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when internet bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging offer shorter check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make scheduling more flexible and allow therapy to fit around work, caregiving, or school commitments.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Christine address?
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What experience does she bring to therapy?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Which languages are supported for sessions?
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What session formats are available?
How does cost and getting started work?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 24 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English