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LMFT

Dr. Lita Carvalho, LMFT

  • Experience20 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Addictions
  • Therapy approachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Attachment-Based Therapy
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About Lita

Dr. Lita Carvalho welcomes people seeking support for a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, sleep and eating difficulties, parenting challenges, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar mood challenges, compassion fatigue, and ADHD.

Background and approach

She brings two decades of clinical experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT 113252) practicing in California, and combines evidence-informed methods with a person-focused stance to help clients pursue meaningful change. Her work emphasizes collaboration and tailoring interventions to the individual's needs and goals.

Dr. Carvalho integrates cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment strategies, attachment-informed perspectives, client-centered work, and skills from dialectical behavior therapy to address emotional regulation, relational patterns, and coping with life transitions.

She aims to create an empathic environment where clients are heard and practical steps are developed together. Practical options for care include several remote session formats, and Dr.

Carvalho explains the process clearly so people can make informed choices about scheduling and next steps. Her background in clinical practice and research informs a thoughtful, adaptable approach focused on gradual progress and building sustainable skills.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Carvalho commonly draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people manage difficult thoughts and emotions. ACT focuses on clarifying personal values and taking committed actions even when uncomfortable feelings arise, which can be useful for coping with stress, life changes, and motivation. CBT offers structured strategies to identify and adjust unhelpful thinking patterns and build concrete skills for anxiety, mood, and behavior change.

Finding the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to explore which methods fit their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, adjusting techniques over time so the plan stays aligned with the client's needs.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexibility for scheduling and follow-up between sessions. These options can make it easier to access consistent support from a licensed professional while balancing work, family, and other commitments, and allow practical tools and skill-building to be practiced in everyday life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with a broad set of issues including stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, sleep and eating problems, parenting and career challenges, bipolar disorder, and ADHD.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
The style is collaborative and client-centered, emphasizing empathy and tailoring interventions to each persons goals while combining skills-based and exploratory work.
What is her professional background?
She has 20 years of experience in the mental health field and brings clinical and research-informed perspectives to her practice.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with the California license number CA LMFT 113252 and practices in California.
Does she conduct sessions in other languages or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Clients may meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and scheduling.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are needed to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapists availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

LGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTrichotillomaniaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodImago Relationship TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English

What Lita can help with

Dr. Lita Carvalho works with clients on stress and anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and depression.

Lita works with children, teens, adults, and older adults.

How Lita approaches therapy

Lita's clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, and Gottman Method.

Lita uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Experience and training

Lita is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in California, with 20 years of clinical experience.

Therapy style

Lita aims to create a space where you can feel heard and supported every step of the way.