Carly Graber
Are you longing for a space where you don’t have to perform, have it all figured out, or even know what to say? You’ve arrived! If you’re feeling nervous about starting therapy, please know you aren't alone—taking this first step takes real courage. The magic of therapy begins when you can finally take a deep breath, drop the brave face, and show up exactly as you are. I’m a real person first and a therapist second—using humor, compassion, and curiosity to help you feel at ease. You are the expert on your life; I am honored to support your exploration of your inner world.
You are the expert on your life; I am simply your guide in exploring the landscape of your inner world and the external relationships that shape you.
As a San Diego-based Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 8 years of therapy experience and over 15 years in community-based work, I’ve had the privilege of supporting folks across every season of life. I am a lifelong learner, constantly expanding my therapeutic toolkit to ensure you receive the best possible care. Outside the therapy room, I practice what I teach to sustain my own well-being. You’ll usually find me recharging through daily meditation, movement, creative expression, and time in nature with my partner, our families, and our sweet senior dog.
First session
First, you don't need to have anything prepared. Think of our first few sessions as a low-pressure trial run. Finding a therapist is a deeply personal choice, and it is important that you feel a sense of safety and connection before we begin the heart of our work together. We’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, exploring what brought you here and what meaningful changes you hope to achieve. This is a shared "get to know you" time to ensure I’m the right person to support you in this season of your life.
Strengths
I bring a big-picture lens to our work—I see you as a whole person shaped by your family, your culture, and the world we inhabit. My approach blends practical, everyday tools with deeper exploration. This includes: - Mindfulness & Body-Based (Somatic) Practices: Gentle exercises to help you feel grounded, present, and less "stuck in your head." - Self-Compassion: Tools for developing a kinder, more balanced inner dialogue. - Values-Based Action: Support for making decisions that feel authentic to you, rather than driven by what you feel you "should" do.
Ideal clients
I specialize in supporting adults of all ages who often feel responsible for everyone else. I love working with folks who are brand new to therapy, as well as: - Family Caregivers: Those experiencing the unique burnout of caring for friends or family - High-Achievers and Perfectionists: Folks tired of feeling like they are not enough - People in Transition: Navigating major life changes, from career, identity, and relationship shifts to the complexities of grief and loss Ready to get started? Starting therapy shouldn't feel like another stressful item on your to-do list. To see if we’d be a good fit, I offer a free, no-pressure 15-minute consultation call. We can use this brief chat to answer any questions you might have about how therapy works and what it looks like to work together. Simply select a time on my calendar that works for you and you'll hear from me about next steps!
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.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 101931