Hi. I'm Carly, and I'm so glad you're here! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in San Diego, offering individual therapy to adults across California. Creative expression, connecting with nature, learning new languages, and spending time with family bring me joy! I work well with family caregivers, folks navigating life transitions, dating and relationships, grief/loss, and anyone who identifies as a high-achiever or perfectionist. It would be an honor to provide a compassionate space for you to explore your relationship with yourself and others, reconnect with your values, and identify practical strategies to help you manage life's challenges. I'm happy to offer a free, 15-minute phone consultation prior to your first session to explore whether we'd be a good fit.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
My desire is for all parts of you to feel truly seen and accepted. I prioritize creating a therapeutic space that feels safe, attuned, and free of judgement. Given the power differential that can exist in therapy, I do my best to show up - and ensure you feel comfortable to show up - as a human being first and foremost. This might require some courage to engage in trial and error, provide feedback on what's helpful (and not so helpful), and clarify what's important to you. You are the expert in your life. I see myself as a guide and support to you on your journey of healing.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I strive to be an ally, as well as a trauma-informed and culturally-humble practitioner. I excel in supporting those I work with to find a more satisfying, balanced, and sustainable way of being. As a social worker, I'm curious about the bigger picture - how our families, communities, cultures, identities, upbringing, and systemic inequities affect us personally. Humans don't exist in isolation, and l believe therapy can be most helpful when it encompasses both the internal and external aspects of our lives.
About Carly Graber
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
The tenants of ACT, including psychological flexibility, engaging values as guides to desired change, and working with instead of against our suffering, inform my approach to therapy. I believe this approach allows for a more compassionate and human response to the diverse and complex experiences that bring people to therapy. I continue to receive ongoing training and education in ACT in order to better serve my clients.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I find that components of mindfulness or present-awareness can be interwoven into many other approaches I use (including ACT, DBT, mindful self-compassion, somatic therapy, and parts work). It is a foundational skill that I enjoy sharing with clients to support them in managing their symptoms and maybe even finding more peace and contentment in their lives. I have many years of personal and professional training in a variety of mindfulness and body-mind practices.
Compassion Focused
I believe the capacity to develop compassion - for oneself and others - is fundamental in addressing the suffering we experience as human beings. I engage a variety of methods (guided meditation, written practices, verbal exercises) to teach mindful self-compassion in therapy and receive ongoing training and education in this approach to better serve my clients.