
ABOUT ME
Like many of my Therapeutic Coaching clients, I used to struggle inside, not knowing how to manifest genuine happiness...until everything I worked so hard to create fell apart, inspiring me to find answers that changed everything.
Photo: Lost Maples State Natural Area, ©2019
Cecilia Zúñiga, PhD | Therapeutic Coach
CZ Mentoring, LLC | drceci@icloud.com
HOW I GOT HERE
When I graduated from high school, I went on to achieve a PhD in Educational Psychology with a specialty in Counseling, and began a career as a school psychologist. As a part of that training, service, and my ongoing study, I learned and practiced a multitude of psychotherapy techniques including cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavioral management, social and communication skills, collaborative problem solving and mediation, art and play therapy techniques, photo-therapy techniques, Sandbox therapy, ROPES techniques, trauma/de-escalation techniques, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy technique, and movement therapies, to name a few.
​
In my early 40s following over two decades of formal study and practice in psychology, counseling, and educational psychology with a 12-year career as a school psychologist, I became disillusioned by the limitations of that field and retired in 2005. From there, I immersed myself in the study and practice of more ancient healing wisdom rooted in energy-based and nature-oriented traditions, such as Native American, shamanic, yogic, Buddhist, Wiccan, Tibetan Bön Buddhism, and the Toltec Eagle Knight lineage. I also studied sound, energy, crystal, and Reiki healing methods, became a certified life and spiritual coach, was certified to teach kundalini yoga/meditation, and became a certified hospice volunteer. Today my work is seeped in wisdom from my formal study of psychology, counseling, educational psychology, and life coaching, plus specialties from these more intuitive, spiritual, and interpersonal traditions.
​
It was a powerful near-death experience in my mid-thirties, plus a pattern of painful breakups and other losses in my life, that inspired my journey into a more broad scope of healing technologies and teachings. With focused dedication and intention, I went after, learned, and also created specific techniques to evolve out of the emotional pain and struggle I'd been living in. Today I share this wisdom to support clients via Therapeutic Coaching sessions, teaching, and writing.
CREDENTIALS
Certified Life & Spiritual Coach
Certified Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Teacher
Shamanic & Energy Coach
Inductee, Toltec Eagle Knight Shamanic Lineage
Certified Hospice Volunteer
Nationally Certified School Psychologist/Retired
PhD Educational Psychology | Counseling
BA Psychology | Counseling
Human Being devoted to uplifting females

A Snapshot About Me:
I'm a simple person. I love the natural world and enjoy being outside with nature. I love taking walks and hikes. I cherish sun and moon rises and sets. I take whatever crosses my path as a gift. I'm deeply rooted in spirituality with a shamanic world view. I believe all things in this reality are sacred and have their own pranic power and purpose. My heart weeps for the pain we humans generate, while I celebrate the grace we bring. I pray for the soul healing and spiritual evolution of humankind so that all of life may thrive on this amazing and mystical planet earth we share.
~ Dr. Z