About Carla
Carla Dumas brings 31 years of clinical experience supporting people facing stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, grief and loss, parenting concerns, depression, trauma and abuse, sleep difficulties, anger, bipolar mood issues, ADHD, and related life adjustments.
Background and approach
She also attends to blended family dynamics, caregiver stress, codependency, domestic violence effects, family of origin conflicts, impulsivity, mood and personality disorders, multicultural concerns, prejudice and discrimination, and women's issues. Carla is licensed as an LCPC in Illinois (IL LCPC 180.005817).
Carla approaches therapy from a strengths-based, client-centered stance that recognizes each person as the expert on their own life.
She blends evidence-informed methods such as cognitive behavioral strategies to address unhelpful thinking and behaviors, emotionally focused techniques to deepen connection and process feelings, solution-focused tools to set practical goals, and trauma-focused interventions when past events interfere with present functioning. Her work emphasizes collaboration, practical skills, and respect for cultural context.
Those ready to explore change can expect supportive guidance tailored to their needs and paced according to readiness.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration so clients guide the work while the therapist reflects strengths and priorities; this approach helps with a broad range of concerns from life transitions to relationship strain. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering practical strategies for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and mood regulation. Trauma-Focused Therapy attends to the effects of past harm by providing structured techniques to process traumatic memories and reduce their impact on current functioning.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, symptom patterns, and personal preferences to determine whether client-centered support, CBT, trauma-focused work, or a combination is the best fit, adjusting methods as progress unfolds.
Online sessions using video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging provide flexibility for people with busy lives or limited local options. These formats allow consistent access to licensed professionals, make it easier to schedule regular sessions, and support continuity of care when in-person meetings are difficult to arrange.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
Also works with
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Impulsivity
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 31 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English