Carrie Gajowski, LMFT

Carrie Gajowski is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in California who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship pain, and midlife changes. She focuses on experiences like emotional and narcissistic abuse, identity and sexuality questions, and struggles with self-esteem. Her approach is straightforward and practical, aimed at helping people move toward clearer choices and healthier relationships.

Carrie creates a calm, accepting space where someone can talk through their feelings and doubts. She describes her style as client-centered and collaborative, meaning sessions follow what matters most to the person in front of her. She uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to build skills for managing anxiety and changing unhelpful patterns.

In session she will help identify thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going, and then try small, realistic steps to change them. She also brings in ideas from existential and psychodynamic approaches to help people find meaning and understand relationship patterns. The pace is tuned to each person and their current life demands.

Clients often come seeking help with codependency, communication problems, shame or guilt, loneliness, life purpose, and midlife crisis choices. Carrie supports people exploring non-monogamous relationship questions and those navigating LGBT and women’s issues.

She has seven years of clinical experience and holds LMFT credentials in California and Arizona. Sessions are conducted in English. To begin, users complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that match their values. It’s useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions when someone wants clearer direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors by practicing new skills and testing assumptions, which can reduce anxiety and improve communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, daily life, and what feels most manageable. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them over time to fit the person’s needs and preferences.

Session formats are not listed here, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, avoid travel time, and check in during transitions like a work break or between appointments. It also allows focusing on specific skills or brief check-ins when energy or bandwidth is limited. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT and CBT exercises to remote sessions so people keep progressing even when schedules are tight.