Dr. Cynthia Curnan, LMFT

California · 32 years in practice

Dr. Cynthia Curnan helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, grief, and intimacy-related concerns.

License and registration

LMFT, California: 29820 · expires May 2026
NPI: 1871115188 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 32
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Cynthia

Dr. Cynthia Curnan helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, grief, and intimacy-related concerns. She brings a calm, practical style to sessions and offers hypnotherapy alongside talking therapies.

Her work aims to help clients notice inner patterns that keep them stuck and build skills to move forward. Dr. Curnan spent many years teaching Inner Guidance before training as a psychotherapist.

She earned a California license as a marriage and family therapist - LMFT - in 1992 and completed a PhD in psychology in 1996.

Background and approach

She also authored a book about perfectionism in 1998. Her approach blends gentle exploration with concrete tools. Sessions may include focused breathing, meditation, dream work, and hypnotherapy exercises.

She also uses EMDR and trauma-focused techniques when addressing traumatic memories. Dr. Curnan pays attention to how perfectionism and inner critical voices shape behavior.

She helps people identify those patterns, lessen self-judgment, and strengthen an inner sense of purpose. Goal setting and practical steps are part of how she supports change. People who prefer a mix of experiential and talking work may find her style accessible.

She encourages humor and presence as part of healing. Many clients find the combination of self-knowledge and specific tools makes progress feel achievable.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Cynthia lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Abandonment
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain, illness, and disability
Communication problems
Control issues
Divorce and separation
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
HIV / AIDS
Hoarding
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Jealousy
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Narcissism
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Post-traumatic stress
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues

Approaches Cynthia names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Approaches that combine hypnotherapy and trauma work

Dr. Curnan uses hypnotherapy to access imagination, guided focus, and inner sensing. In short sessions this can help people practice new responses, calm anxious thoughts, and shift unhelpful patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact and gives clear tools to change anxious or avoidant habits. EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is used to help process traumatic memories so they have less emotional intensity.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and comfort level. That might mean starting with breath and grounding exercises, then adding hypnotherapy or EMDR as trust develops.

Online sessions make this range of work more accessible. Video calls allow face-to-face exercises and guided hypnotherapy. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging let people stay connected between sessions for brief updates, homework, or check-ins. These options aim to make therapy flexible and easier to fit into daily life.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does she help with?

She supports people coping with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, and intimacy-related concerns, plus many related life challenges.

What is her general therapeutic style?

Her style mixes calm conversation with experiential techniques like focused breathing, meditation, and hypnotherapy. She aims for straightforward, practical sessions that build skills.

How much experience does she have?

She has 32 years of experience in clinical work and related teaching prior to entering psychotherapy practice.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She is a California licensed marriage and family therapist - LMFT - and practices from California.

In which languages are sessions offered?

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.

What session formats does she use?

She works with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs.

How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I start therapy with her?

To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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