Dr. Carol Carrell, LMFT
Compassionate therapist focused on life change
Details
| Name | Dr. Carol Carrell |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMFT |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California, Arizona |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 30 |
About Carol
Dr. Carol Carrell is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 30 years of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and relationship struggles. She works with individuals who are coping with life changes, caregiver strain, sleep problems, anger, low self-esteem, career transitions, and intimacy concerns.
Her practice also addresses LGBT issues and ADHD-related challenges. She describes therapy as a collaborative conversation where a person's story matters. Dr.
Background and approach
Carrell listens for patterns that shape how someone understands themselves and their relationships. Sessions focus on practical changes people can make between visits as well as on understanding recurring themes that keep problems stuck. Her style blends Narrative therapy with client-centered care.
That means she helps people reframe problematic stories while staying rooted in each person's needs and strengths. She also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thinking and on DBT and emotion-focused ideas to manage strong feelings. Across decades of work she has supported people dealing with chronic illness, caregiver fatigue, trauma and abuse, and substance use.
She has experience with blended family challenges, communication problems, and the stress that comes with medical care for a loved one. Dr. Carrell emphasizes identifying individual and relational strengths to build clearer communication and workable goals.
Her approach is practical and plainspoken. Sessions move at a pace the client can handle, with an eye toward small, achievable steps. She invites curiosity about current patterns and steady work toward change.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Depression among the things Carol works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- LGBT
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Jungian Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Carol among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Carol directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Carol directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Approaches that guide online therapy sessions
Narrative therapy helps people separate themselves from their problems by looking at the stories they tell about their lives. It can be useful for identity questions, relationship patterns, and shifting long-held beliefs that limit change.Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people feel understood and accepted. This approach supports people who need a steady, nonjudgmental space to clarify values and make decisions.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep difficulties going, and provides clear exercises to test and change unhelpful thinking. It is often helpful for anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose techniques that match goals, preferences, and life circumstances. That means adapting narrative, client-centered, or CBT tools as needed rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video matches the feel of an in-person conversation when visual cues matter. Phone calls work well when bandwidth is limited or you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging allow for brief check-ins or ongoing written reflection between sessions. These options make scheduling easier and help therapy fit into busy days.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does she commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, trauma, relationship and family issues, caregiver fatigue, sleep problems, and self-esteem concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and conversational, focusing on a person’s story and practical steps. She aims to reframe problems while building communication and coping skills.
What kind of experience does she bring?
She brings 30 years of clinical work supporting people through chronic illness, trauma, addiction, caregiver stress, and family challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensed in California and Arizona and practices from California.
Which languages and international arrangements are supported?
Sessions are offered in English, and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available with her?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Carol are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Carol where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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