PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

CC Portrait of Dr. Carol Carrell
Online therapist

Dr. Carol Carrell

Family-focused therapist with 30 years' experience

Credentials
LMFT
Experience
30 years
Licensed in
California, Arizona
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Carol

Dr. Carol Carrell offers help for parents and families facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship troubles, parenting challenges, addiction, trauma, and caregiving strain. She names parenting and family concerns among her areas of focus.

Her approach aims to make time in therapy practical and understandable for busy households. Dr. Carol Carrell, LMFT, brings 30 years of counseling experience.

She uses straightforward conversation to identify what is most pressing. She focuses on building trust so people can talk about hard things and feel heard.

Background and approach

Her work blends several methods, including Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and Existential Therapy. She adapts those methods to fit each family's needs rather than using a single formula. Sessions often include communication skills, problem solving, and emotional regulation practice.

She has experience with caregiving stress, chronic illness, blended family dynamics, and concern areas that touch multiple family members. She also has long experience addressing issues related to sexual orientation and coming out, and she has worked with people facing trauma, abuse, and addiction.

Sessions are offered by a California-licensed marriage and family therapist and are intended to help clients set goals and work toward change. The emphasis is on practical steps parents and family members can try between sessions to improve communication and manage stress.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and creating a nonjudgmental space so people can explore feelings and priorities. This approach helps with building trust, improving communication, and making clear decisions about family matters.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts affect feelings and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds specific skills for managing strong emotions and improving relationships, which can help when stress and anger affect family interactions.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with clients about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they choose methods to try and adjust them as progress is seen.

Online delivery offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy around family schedules, caregiving duties, and work. Many families find the variety of formats helps keep continuity when life gets busy while still allowing focused work on communication and coping skills.

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.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of family and parenting issues are addressed?
She supports concerns such as parenting challenges, blended family issues, communication problems, caregiving stress, and relationship strain. Other areas include trauma, grief, addiction, and coping with life changes.
What is the overall therapy style like?
Therapy is straightforward and practical with focus on building trust and clear communication. Sessions often include skills practice and goal-setting tailored to each family.
What background does the therapist have?
The therapist has 30 years of counseling experience and has worked across a wide age range and many clinical settings. She has also served as a professor and supervisor.
Which credentials and region apply to this practice?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with California license CA LMFT 29475 and Arizona license AZ LMFT LMFT-15478, based in California.
Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
Therapy is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on those factors.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's listed availability.

Next step

Talk to Carol

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