Marla Carman

Compassionate, skill-focused therapy for lasting change

LMHC, LPC Arizona

Experience: 21 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Marla

Marla Carman blends practical, evidence-informed methods to help people manage distress and improve daily functioning. With 21 years in clinical practice, she integrates cognitive behavioral techniques with acceptance-based strategies and client-centered care to address anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, trauma and related concerns.

Background and approach

Her approach emphasizes learning new skills, shifting unhelpful thinking patterns, and building values-guided actions to support lasting change. Marla holds LMHC and LPC licenses and offers a range of therapeutic options informed by mindfulness and EMDR-informed methods when appropriate.

She works with adults facing issues such as grief, addictions, intimacy-related difficulties, sleep and eating concerns, parenting stress, anger, self-esteem, career transitions, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include body image, codependency, communication problems, fertility and caregiver stress, hospice and end-of-life matters, and explorations of kink and alternative sexual culture.

Clients seeking flexible session formats can expect a collaborative, respectful stance that centers their goals and preferences. Marla practices from Arizona and conducts work in English, helping individuals develop practical tools to navigate stressors and pursue recovery and growth.

Therapeutic approaches and what online therapy can offer

Marla commonly uses cognitive behavioral approaches to help clients identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, teaching practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is another frequent element, focusing on values-driven action and learning to respond differently to difficult thoughts and emotions to improve quality of life. She also draws on client-centered principles to create an empathic, nonjudgmental space that prioritizes the client’s experience and personal goals.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to explore which methods fit their needs, preferences, and goals, adjusting techniques over time to find the most helpful mix for progress and comfort.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into a busy life or when in-person options are limited. These formats support ongoing skill practice between sessions and allow clients to access licensed professionals from wherever they are located in Arizona.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?

She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy-related problems, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting and family concerns, and coping with life changes.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style combines cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment elements, client-centered principles, mindfulness, and EMDR-informed methods to create practical, skills-based therapy tailored to each person.

What is her clinical experience?

She has 21 years of experience working in mental health, applying a range of evidence-informed modalities to support clients through trauma, mood concerns, relationship issues, and life transitions.

What credentials and where does she practice?

She holds the credentials LMHC and LPC and is based in Arizona; her license details include FL LMHC MH9977 and AZ LPC LPC-13114 as provided in her profile.

Does she work in other languages or accept international clients?

Services are offered in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

In what formats are sessions available?

Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

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

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Grief Depression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsDependent personalityDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

21+ years

Licensed

Arizona, Florida, Washington

Languages

English