Carla Dumas, LCPC - Therapist in Illinois

About Carla

Carla Dumas is a licensed clinical professional counselor in Illinois who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and parenting concerns. She draws on three decades of practice to guide clients through hard moments. Carla speaks plainly and focuses on each person’s strengths as she listens and responds.

She believes clients are the experts on their own lives and that therapy should build on what already works. Sessions tend to be conversational and goal-focused.

Background and approach

Carla aims to make the steps forward feel manageable and realistic. Over 31 years she has worked with a wide range of concerns, including trauma and abuse, sleeping problems, anger, bipolar symptoms, and coping with life changes. She also addresses focused issues like blended family dynamics, caregiver stress, and family of origin problems.

Her training as an LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - informs a practical approach. She uses methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy and emotionally-focused techniques when they fit the person’s needs. Carla adapts methods to the situation rather than following one fixed plan.

People who seek her help can expect a collaborative process that names clear goals and tests what works. She supports work on mood disorders, impulsivity, codependency, multicultural concerns, and women’s issues with steady, experienced guidance.

How Carla's approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the person. It aims to help clients feel heard and to build on their existing strengths, which can be useful for parental stress, grief, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it can be helpful for anxiety, mood concerns, sleeping problems, and impulsivity.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options let people fit sessions around family schedules, caregiving duties, or work. They also allow continued contact between visits and make it easier to practice skills in real life with therapist support.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)

Attends to the emotions underneath a recurring argument or distance, and to the attachment needs driving them. Often used where a relationship keeps returning to the same painful loop.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she help with?

She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, parenting issues, grief, depression, trauma and abuse, sleeping problems, anger, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include blended family issues, caregiver stress, codependency, and family problems.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Her style is direct and collaborative. She listens for strengths, sets clear goals, and uses practical steps to test what helps.

What kind of experience does she bring?

Carla has 31 years of professional work experience supporting people with mood concerns, relationship stresses, trauma-related issues, and parenting challenges.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

She is an LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - licensed in Illinois with license number IL LCPC 180.005817.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How are costs and billing handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What steps should I take to begin?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Grief

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 31 years
Licensed: Illinois
Languages: English

Next step

Talk to Carla

Takes a few minutes
Nothing to set up just to look
Stop at any point

Book with Carla