Cristina Curiel

I am a second-generation Mexican-American therapist who grew up understanding firsthand what it means to carry the weight of cultural expectations, family responsibility, and the quiet pressure to shrink yourself to fit in. As the oldest daughter in my family, I learned early how to hold a lot, and that experience deeply informs how I show up for my clients.

I earned my degree from Cal State Los Angeles and have spent my career working in the places where people need support the most: community mental health, nonprofits, and the Emergency Department as a psychiatric social worker. The experience I've had means I've sat with people in some of their hardest, most vulnerable moments, and I don't take that lightly. I am currently pursuing my PsyD, continuing to deepen the clinical foundation I bring to every session.

I specialize in supporting women of color and women who identify as highly sensitive, introverted, or quietly struggling. Women who feel the pull of anxiety, depression, and cultural pressure but haven't always had a space that truly felt made for them. If you've ever felt like you were too much and not enough at the same time, I want you to know: that experience makes sense, and it doesn't have to be permanent.

I am passionate about helping women of color reconnect with who they are beneath all the expectations. To stop apologizing for taking up space, to trust themselves again, and to live from a place of authenticity rather than survival.

This work is personal to me. And if any part of this resonates with you, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.

My approach to therapy is integrative and eclectic, meaning I don't believe one size fits all, and I'm not wedded to a single method. Instead, I draw from a range of evidence-based modalities and tailor my work to what actually fits: your nervous system, your story, your goals.

I also believe the therapeutic relationship itself is part of the healing. You deserve a space that feels safe, warm, and free of judgment, where you don't have to translate yourself or explain your culture before we can get to the real work.

Whether you're working through anxiety, depression, identity, or the quieter aches that are harder to name, I'll meet you where you are and adapt as you grow.

Our first session is really about getting to know one another. There's no pressure to have everything figured out before you walk in. We'll explore what brought you here, what you're hoping to feel or experience differently, and begin to map out what your therapeutic goals might look like.

Whether we're meeting in person or virtually, you can expect a warm, collaborative space where you are welcome exactly as you are.

I look forward to meeting you.