Christina Runnels
Therapist, speaker, author, and host of Lead Mama Lead podcast. Helping high-achieving women lead, mother, and live without guilt.
I help women untangle the pressure to do it all.
I’m a licensed therapist, speaker, and mom who’s been there — juggling career demands, family responsibilities, and the constant pressure to be everything for everyone. Through my podcast, speaking, writing, and therapy practice, I help women like you find clarity, set boundaries, and build a life that feels both ambitious and sustainable.
My background
Christina Runnels is a licensed professional counselor supervisor (LPC-S) and perinatal mental health clinician (PMH-C) with over a decade of experience in mental health care and private practice leadership. She founded Greater Houston Counseling Services, growing it to five Houston-area offices and statewide telehealth. She now works with therapists ready to build or grow practices of their own, drawing on that experience, and speaks and works as a business coach on burnout, leadership, and workplace mental health. She is the author of Boldly Both: A Mom's Guide to Balancing Career and Family Without Guilt and host of the Lead Mama Lead podcast.
How I work
Whether through individual therapy, speaking engagements, podcast conversations, or my book, I focus on practical tools, honest support, and strategies that work in the real world. My approach blends evidence-based therapy with real-life experience as a working mom.
What People Are Saying
I am a therapist and business owner. I'm also a mother. This book is a living example and reminder of the necessity of balance. Of not foregoing or short-changing ourselves for one dream or the other.
This book has been so encouraging to me, I cannot wait to share it with other women in my life. Thank you for writing this much needed reminder that we can be "boldly both".
— Katie Porter, Therapist, Mom & Business OwnerAs a therapist, entrepreneur, and mom, I know what it feels like to juggle the weight of everyone else’s needs while questioning if there’s still space for your own. Boldly Both doesn’t just tell you it’s possible to do both—it shows you how to do it without burning out or selling yourself short. Christina keeps it real while giving you a roadmap to reclaim your time, energy, and joy. If you’ve ever felt torn between showing up for your dreams and showing up for your babies, this book will meet you right in that tension and help you move through it with intention.
- Nikquan Lewis, Therapist, Mom, Business OwnerReady to talk?
Start with the podcast, explore my speaking work, or reach out to learn about therapy and coaching.
Christina was amazing and timely. I think we can all benefit from taking our power back and running our own life, instead of others havingthe power to run our life. Loved how she presented with discussion questions to ask yourself and share with a neighbor. She did a greatjob!
— Conference Attendee