- Values-based work
- Trauma-informed care
- Practical coping skills
About Marla
Marla Carman uses a blend of practical therapy methods to help people untangle difficult patterns and feel more able in daily life. She focuses on helping clients manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and issues tied to trauma and abuse. Marla brings 21 years of experience and holds the LMHC and LPC credentials. Her work centers on listening carefully, naming unhelpful patterns, and trying small, doable changes that add up over time.
Marla draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and take values-based action. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy and Mindfulness practices to help people slow down, feel heard, and build self-compassion. For clients who have trauma, EMDR is part of her toolkit when appropriate.
Sessions often involve clear, concrete steps you can try between visits. Marla helps people practice new ways of responding to stress and relationship triggers. She also supports those coping with complicated life changes like divorce, caregiving, or end-of-life concerns.
Her additional focus areas include codependency, body image, abandonment, caregiver stress, and sexual culture topics such as BDSM and kink. Marla has worked with first responders, veterans, and people from varied cultural and spiritual backgrounds. She emphasizes collaborative work and practical strategies rather than lengthy lectures.
Clients can expect steady, respectful support that balances empathy with real-world tools. Marla aims to help people reclaim a greater sense of control, improve relationships, and find clearer direction amid life’s challenges.
How Marla’s Approaches Translate to Online Work
Marla commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice what matters to them and take small actions toward those values, even when uncomfortable feelings are present. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression.She also brings Client-Centered Therapy into sessions by listening closely and helping clients feel understood before moving on to strategies. That gentle, person-focused stance pairs with skills-based work so clients both feel heard and leave with concrete steps to try between sessions.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and suggest an approach or mix of methods that fit the client's situation. Together they will check progress and adjust methods as needed to focus on what helps most.
Session formats are not specified in the provided biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten check-ins when time is limited, or avoid travel to appointments. Licensed professionals can use online sessions to teach coping skills, guide mindfulness practice, process relationship patterns, and work through trauma-related material with appropriate methods.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
21+ years
Credentials
Arizona, Florida, Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Marla address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, codependency, and related concerns.
What is Marla's general therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth, combining acceptance, cognitive work, and mindfulness to create practical steps clients can use between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Marla has 21 years of experience working in the mental health field and has supported clients across a wide range of life challenges.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She holds the LMHC and LPC credentials and practices in Arizona.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.