Thank you for your interest in my practice. People come to counselors or clinical psychologists for many reasons. I have been in practice for over 25 years and I have had the opportunity to meet with many individuals, couples, and families over those years. While their presenting concerns might vary, most people who seek help from a counselor or psychologist are in pain and are looking for tools and understanding in order to make positive changes in their lives. I take pride in being a "general practitioner" in the field of psychology. I spent many years in training in my field and I continue to pursue continuing education every year. I believe that my education and training make me a better psychologist. I strive to be on the "cutting edge" of advances in my field. I have several areas where I have some specific expertise such as in the areas of depression and anxiety, grief, substance abuse, high conflict divorce and child custody, I feel that my training and expertise are sufficiently broad that I can competently handle the concerns of the vast majority of the people who seek help. In those situations where I do not feel that I am best able to help, I am happy to provide a referral. I have a good working relationship with most of the physicians in the Santa Ynez Valley, and I often coordinate with these physicians regarding medication or other health concerns. I am always open to discussing your specific concerns and whether I might be the best person to help you address those concerns. Feel free to call and leave a message and I would be happy to return your call and discuss your unique situation.

I provide a safe healing environment for freeing you to be the person you want to be. You will have a partner and advocate on your side. I have over 30 years' experience in working with individuals, couples and families. Whether you are depressed, anxious, unhappy in a relationship or lonely without one, change is possible. I value the uniqueness of each person. We will work together to find the approach that is right for you. I specialize in helping people move out of stuck places, heal past trauma, and change destructive behavior patterns. As well as being trained in Gestalt therapy and family systems therapy, I am an experienced hypnotherapist and a certified EMDR therapist. I work with the unconscious mind to bring about deep lasting change using one of the fastest processing methods available today. We will work on the level of both the conscious AND the unconscious mind so that the changes you make will be solid and long-lasting. Together we can make your life what you want it to be. Let experience and training work for you.

Since 1993, I have been committed to providing high quality, individualized, and respectful therapy services to clients interested in pursuing positive change and self-growth to enrich their lives. I utilize a collaborative approach to work together with clients to find the best solutions to their problems. By focusing on the "here and now", which includes your thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, we can bring awareness to our everyday activities, and create an intention to make the changes we wish.

Therapy is a rare opportunity to be profoundly understood by another person.If you are looking for that deep understanding and a place to examine your life, I would be honored to work with you. I offer a safe and caring environment with an open, compassionate and interactive approach. My style is mostly eclectic, however my work is informed by ecotherapy,family system theory, attachment theory and the neuropsychology of trauma. Together we will explore the impact of your past on the present; yet because insight alone is often not sufficient in bringing about change, we will also develop concrete tools to help you live a more productive and joyful life. A life that is truly yours! The first step is often the hardest one! Come for a consultation.

Therapy offers us the opportunity to be deeply seen and heard by another. This alone can be healing, even though it may feel scary at first. As your therapist, I listen care-fully to your story and help craft a foundation of trust between us. Through reflections and probing questions, we will explore both what is being said and what is not being said. Therapy provides us with a rare opportunity to explore ourselves in ways that are impossible to do on our own. This can help us navigate parts of ourselves that may not be serving us very well anymore, like a harsh inner critic, people-pleaser, or perfectionist. We can change our relationship to these parts of ourselves, and this can help us free up other voices or energy sources within us that have been silenced or suppressed. The goal is to bring back a sense of aliveness for you, a feeling of connection to your life and the larger world. Grief and loss resulting from a death or other events like the break-up of a relationship, aging, climate change, social injustice, or confronting our past traumas can be very painful. We are not meant to navigate grief and loss alone. Therapists can serve as knowledgeable companions through the territory of grief. I help you move through your pain, introducing tools and techniques along the way that can help you stay afloat. With time, we also explore the new edges that your losses offer you and consider how your loss has changed or continues to transform you. Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the pain that comes from emotional suffering, and we begin to feel like it is paralyzing or rigid. Therapy helps us remember that within the pain is movement, and that means change is always happening. Our time together can help make meaning of this change by bringing it out into the light. I offer both in-person therapy and online therapy to all residents of California. I specialize in working with adults, couples, and groups.

Quite simply, for a nominal fee, I come to you. In that way your therapy sessions take place in a private, familiar setting. I strive to be on time - as I value yours. My general orientation is cognitive behavioral, although, to suit a client I may pull from other therapeutic modalities. The goal is always with the client in mind. I use humor, I believe laughter is good medicine! I'm trained in natural health as well as psychotherapy and may address holistic therapies, nutrition and meditation etc.with my people to see if they might be interested in including such items - if appropriate- in their work.

I have been working as a therapist/social worker with adults, children, and families through different organizations and psychiatric hospitals since 1993. Since then, I have also been on the journey of discovering my own true self through Western and Eastern psychotherapy. Studying both the Western psychology and the discipline of an Eastern mystical path and experiencing them I came to integrate these two schools and incorporate them into my therapeutic work. In my practice, I use mystical stories, and movements, when necessary. In short, my work is to help you to work though your issues and life predicaments to awaken your inner love, and to find joy and beauty in your daily life. Working at The Bridge to Recovery in Santa Barbara for the the last 2 years, I have experienced doing a lot of workshops and groups to help clients with childhood trauma and process addiction. One of the workshops that has been my specialty is Cinema Therapy group. In my private practice I do circle of psycho-spiritual Cinema Therapy groups as well as individual and couple therapy.

Finding a therapist with whom you can connect and feel safe is vital for healing. With empathy and compassion, Carie creates a safe environment so that you are able to share that which is most vulnerable. By holding the space, a positive attitude, the intention is to promote growth and healing. Whether you come as a family, couple, individual, or if you bring your child, Carie helps you to get past the stuck places, learn new skills, and helps you to make the changes that will enrich your life. Practicing within a Holistic framework of the Mind, Body, and Spirit connection, Carie adheres to the idea that all is energy and when there is "dis-ease", then something within the self, or the system, is out of balance. Our focus then becomes bringing the system back into balance. Carie uses the skills of a trained therapist along with the gifts of intuition and conscientious presence to assess & diagnose problematic areas. She is excited about incorporating Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT) and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) into her practice as she has experienced that these techniques foster healing for: trauma, negative core beliefs & behavioral patterns, grief & loss, weight loss, depression , anxiety & PTSD, physical discomfort, and many other issues. Compassionate communication adds depth in all relationships, therefore Carie encourages the use of NVC: Non-Violent Communication; Language of Compassion by Marshall Rosenberg, to facilitate the expression of feelings, needs, and empathic listening. She uses “The Work” of Katie Byron as a cognitive method that helps each individual take responsibility for their own feelings, thoughts, & choices. In a supportive environment healing, growth & change can & does occur. Carie looks forward to meeting with you & being a guide to help you attain your goals.

Your relationship with yourself and the ones you love deserves experienced care. I have advanced training in couples therapy as well as EMDR, a specialized form of therapy that address numerous issues. I help individuals and couples resolve conflict, feel safer, more connected and more loving. You do not have to suffer alone; real help is available. My specialty areas include: anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, relationship issues for singles and couples, and life transitions.