A renal neuromodulation catheter, comprising: an elongated shaft extending along an axis and comprising a controlled flexure zone and an unrestrained flexure zone coupled to and extending distally from the controlled flexure zone, the elongated shaft sized and configured for intravascular delivery into a renal artery; wherein the unrestrained flexure zone is configured to carry a thermal element; wherein the controlled flexure zone is sized and configured for placement into contact against a first wall region of the renal artery and, in response to application of a force applied by a remotely controlled element, for flexure relative to the axis in a predetermined radial direction away from the first wall region toward a second wall region of the renal artery generally opposite to the first wall region; wherein the unrestrained flexure zone is sized and configured, when the controlled flexure zone is in flexure against the first wall region, for unrestrained flexure relative to the axis to place a side of the thermal element into contact against the second wall region; and wherein the controlled flexure zone is configured to apply, when in flexure against the first wall region, through the unrestrained flexure zone a stabilizing force to the thermal element against the second wall region, wherein the remotely controlled element comprises a wire coupled to a distal portion of the controlled flexure zone, and wherein the force applied by the wire is a bending or compressive force against the controlled flexure zone, wherein the controlled flexure zone has a length of from about 5 millimeters to about 15 millimeters. an elongated shaft extending along an axis and comprising a controlled flexure zone and an unrestrained flexure zone coupled to and extending distally from the controlled flexure zone, the elongated shaft sized and configured for intravascular delivery into a renal artery; wherein the unrestrained flexure zone is configured to carry a thermal element; wherein the controlled flexure zone is sized and configured for placement into contact against a first wall region of the renal artery and, in response to application of a force applied by a remotely controlled element, for flexure relative to the axis in a predetermined radial direction away from the first wall region toward a second wall region of the renal artery generally opposite to the first wall region; wherein the unrestrained flexure zone is sized and configured, when the controlled flexure zone is in flexure against the first wall region, for unrestrained flexure relative to the axis to place a side of the thermal element into contact against the second wall region; and wherein the controlled flexure zone is configured to apply, when in flexure against the first wall region, through the unrestrained flexure zone a stabilizing force to the thermal element against the second wall region, wherein the remotely controlled element comprises a wire coupled to a distal portion of the controlled flexure zone, and wherein the force applied by the wire is a bending or compressive force against the controlled flexure zone, wherein the controlled flexure zone has a length of from about 5 millimeters to about 15 millimeters.