About Liz Culnan, PhD, DBSM
I am a licensed clinical health psychologist with specialized training in perinatal mental health, reproductive health psychology, and behavioral sleep medicine. I’m deeply passionate about the work that I do, and I’ve been working with clients in these niche areas for 10+ years.
My approach
My approach to therapy is warm, supportive, and collaborative. From the start of therapy, we'll work together to set meaningful goals. I believe in taking an active, mindful approach as we explore the best ways to move forward. As a health psychologist, I consider not only your mental and emotional health, but also your physical health, and social support and circumstances. I integrate evidence-based psychotherapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Interpersonal Psychotherapy to tailor my approach to you. We will make sure we are working together in a way that takes into account what matters most to you and what's contributing to the challenges you're facing. Together, we’ll work to help you experience more self-compassion, find clarity, improve your sleep, and re-engage with life in a meaningful way.
My commitment to this work comes not only from seeing how transformative therapy can be, but also from my own experiences in becoming a mom and parenting a busy toddler.
Specialty Areas
Behavioral Sleep Medicine
I am board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine (DBSM), a credential representing the most advanced expertise in helping people sleep well without relying on medication. I treat insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and nightmares using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy. I also help people coping with hypersomnia diagnoses.
Perinatal Mental Health
Pregnancy and the postpartum period bring enormous change, and for many people, postpartum anxiety, depression, birth trauma, and insomnia. I specialize in treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, birth trauma, and in helping new parents build the coping skills and support they need to thrive during this transition. I received specialized training within this area during my fellowship and from Postpartum Support International.
Reproductive Mental Health
Reproductive experiences, including infertility, pregnancy loss, reproductive health conditions, and the emotional weight of fertility treatments, can be deeply isolating. I provide compassionate, evidence-based psychological support for people navigating these experiences to help manage stress, cope with uncertainty, and support you as you navigate the complex medical system.
Before private practice, I worked as an Assistant Professor with the Reproductive Health Psychology Service within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and with the Sleep Disorders Service and Research Center within the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center. I also served as the Associate Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Services at Rush University Medical Center, and am a Diplomate of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, meaning I have training above and beyond what most health psychologists do when it comes to helping people sleep well.
Book Chapters
1. Culnan, E., McCullough, L., & Wyatt, J. K. (2019). Circadian rhythm sleep-wake phase disorders. Neurologic Clinics, 37, 527-543.
2. Baron, K. G., & Culnan, E. (2019). Sleep and Healthy Decision Making. In M. Grandner (Ed.), Sleep and Health (pp 359-369). Academic Press.
Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts
1. Muench, A., Giller, J., Morales, K. H., Culnan, E., Khader, W., Kaptchuk, T. J., McCall, W. V., & Perlis, M. P. (2023). Do placebos primarily affect subjective as opposed to objective measures? A meta-analysis of placebo responses in insomnia RCTs. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 21, 500-512.
2. Culnan E., Reid, K. J., Zee, P. C., Crowley, S. J., & Baron, K. G (2021). Meal timing relative to DLMO: Associations with BMI and body fat. Sleep Health, 7, 339 - 344.
3. Baron, K. G., Culnan, E., Duffecy, J., Berendson, M., Cheung Mason, I., Lattie, E., & Manalo, N. (2021). How are consumer technology data being used to deliver behavioral sleep medicine interventions? A systematic review. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 20, 173-187.
4. McCuen-Wurst, C., Culnan, E., Stewart, N. L., Allison, K. C. (2017). Weight and eating concerns in women’s reproductive health. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19, 1-10.
5. Heckman, C. J., Kloss, J. D., Feskanich, D., Culnan, E., Schernhammer, E. (2017). Associations among rotating night shift work, sleep, and skin cancer in Nurses’ Health Study II participants. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 74, 169-175.
6. Kloss, J.D., Nash, C.O., Walsh, C., Culnan, E., Horsey, S. & Sexton-Radek, K. (2016). A “Sleep 101” program for college students improves sleep hygiene knowledge and reduces maladaptive beliefs about sleep. Behavioral Medicine, 42, 1-9.
7. Culnan, E., Kloss, J. D., Darlow, S., & Heckman, C. J. (2015). Associations between seasonal sleep change and indoor tanning. Psychological Reports, 116, 523-533.
8. Kloss, J. D., Perlis, M. L., Zamzow, J., Culnan, E., & Gracia, C. (2015). Sleep, Sleep Disturbance, and Fertility. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 22, 78-87.
9. Culnan, E., Daly, B. P., Brooks-Holliday, S., Aggarwal, R., & Kloss, J. D. (2013). Insufficient sleep and weight status: should we be focusing on the extremes? Children’s Health Care, 42, 99-115.
10. Culnan, E., Kloss, J. D., & Grandner, M. A. (2013). A prospective study of weight gain associated with chronotype among college freshmen. Chronobiology International, 30, 682-690.
Education and Clinical Training:
Postdoctoral fellowship in Reproductive Health Psychology and Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Rush University Medical Center
Pre-doctoral Health Psychology internship at Rush University Medical Center
PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from Drexel University
Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine