Licensed to practice in California and accepts 34 insurances. Specializes in Anger Management, Coping Skills, Men's Issues and 10 more.
Carrie Christensen
(she/her)
I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, relationship stress, life transitions, and long-standing patterns that leave them feeling stuck or disconnected from themselves. My approach is grounded, direct, and compassionate. I believe therapy should feel collaborative—not clinical or judgmental. Together, we’ll explore the patterns, beliefs, and survival strategies that may have once protected you but no longer serve you. I help clients build insight, emotional regulation, healthier boundaries, and practical tools they can actually use in daily life. I draw from trauma-informed care, mindfulness, CBT, DBT-informed skills, and parts-focused work to support meaningful, lasting change. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe enough to be honest, curious, and fully human.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin building a foundation for the work ahead. We’ll talk about what brings you to therapy, the challenges you’re currently facing, and what you hope will feel different in your life over time. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting. Many clients come in feeling overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally exhausted, disconnected, or unsure where to begin. We will move at a pace that feels manageable and supportive. I’ll ask questions to better understand your history, current stressors, relationships, coping patterns, and strengths. We may also begin identifying patterns that keep showing up in your life and explore tools that can help create more stability and clarity. My goal in the first session is for you to leave feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of direction—not judged or pressured.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to help clients identify the deeper patterns underneath their stress, emotions, relationships, and behaviors. Many people come to therapy knowing something feels wrong, but struggling to understand why they keep repeating the same cycles. I help clients connect those pieces in a way that feels practical, empowering, and compassionate. My style is warm, grounded, and direct. I balance validation with honest reflection and skill-building so therapy becomes more than just talking about problems. Clients often tell me they appreciate having a space where they can be fully themselves without feeling judged or dismissed. I have extensive experience working with trauma, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, and high-stress environments. I also incorporate mindfulness, nervous system awareness, and evidence-based coping strategies to help clients build lasting change both emotionally and behaviorally. I believe healing happens through curiosity, self-awareness, accountability, and learning how to respond to yourself with both honesty and compassion.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work the best with individuals that either are developing insight into their cycles and patterns or have the insight and want to apply real changes. My approach works well for men and women struggling with self esteem, partner conflict, and regulating emotions, substance use/disorders. I work very well with those in crisis, high acuity with suicidal ideation, and/or stress and anxiety.
Specialties
Top specialties
Anger Management
Coping Skills
Men's Issues
Other specialties
Addiction
Anxiety
Crisis Intervention
Depression
Dissociative Disorders
First Responders/Healthcare Workers
Grief
LGBTQ
Life Transitions
I identify as
LGBTQ
White
Woman
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Licensed in
California
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Arlo
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
Sutter Health Plan
IHSS Healthy Workers
Cash - $100 per session
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
Evernorth
GTEB
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
Tufts Health/Cigna
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Eclectic
I combine CBT, REBT, ACT, and bring in elements of IFS and biofeedback to create a trauma informed, evidence based model that meets the client where they are. Iam comfortable adjusting my approach based on what the client needs.
1 rating with written reviews
July 11, 2026
Carrie's direct and non judgemental approach made my appointment very smooth. It was easy to open up and I look forward to future appointments with her.