Christine Sumner , LMFT

Christine Sumner is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 24 years of professional experience. She brings extensive experience supporting people through relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, self-esteem concerns, and issues related to LGBT identities. Christine combines clinical experience with a respectful and compassionate approach to create a therapeutic space that honors each person’s story.

She tailors conversations and treatment plans to each individual’s needs, drawing on approaches such as Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Her work emphasizes sensitivity and collaboration, and she strives to help clients find practical strategies and deeper insight depending on their goals.

Christine values the courage it takes to begin therapy and supports clients through the early steps of engagement with empathy and clear communication. Her practice focuses on meeting clients where they are and adapting care to fit unique circumstances and preferences.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Christine Sumner integrates Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to address a range of concerns. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a supportive, nonjudgmental relationship so clients can explore their feelings and priorities and gain self-directed insight. CBT helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, mood challenges, and developing practical coping skills. Emotionally-Focused Therapy centers on understanding emotional experiences and patterns within relationships, helping partners and individuals strengthen emotional connection and resolve relational distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Christine works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts the plan over time based on progress and feedback.

Online therapy offers flexibility by allowing sessions via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and maintain continuity of care across changing schedules, while enabling licensed professionals and therapists to provide focused support in ways that suit each client’s routine and comfort.