Carrie Gajowski , LMFT

Carrie Gajowski is a licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on stress, anxiety, LGBT concerns, relationships, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. She helps people feeling stuck after painful relationships, and those navigating identity and sexual expression. Carrie writes plainly and listens closely to understand what matters most to each person.

Her approach centers on building practical skills and clearer thinking. She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to spot unhelpful thoughts and develop new patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people make choices that match their values while managing painful feelings.

Carrie also brings client-centered and psychodynamic perspectives into sessions. That means she pays attention to the relationship in the room and to patterns from the past that keep repeating today. She aims to create steady, calm conversations where clients can notice what works and what does not.

Sessions are collaborative and goal-focused. Carrie helps people set small, manageable steps toward change. Typical topics include codependency, communication problems, guilt and shame, isolation, life purpose, midlife transitions, sexuality, social anxiety, and women's issues.

She has seven years of clinical experience and holds LMFT credentials in California and Arizona. Sessions are offered in English and delivered online by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. To begin, a person completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules according to therapist availability.

How therapeutic approaches guide online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then take actions that reflect their values; it is useful for anxiety, life transitions, and self-esteem work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and improve communication. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist listens deeply and follows the client's lead to build insight and self-direction.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Carrie will collaborate with each person to choose techniques that match their goals, needs, and comfort level. She adjusts methods as progress happens so therapy stays relevant and practical.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different lifestyles. Video is good for face-to-face conversation and reading nonverbal cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or for a quieter check-in. Live chat and text messaging are useful for shorter, more frequent touchpoints or when someone prefers writing to speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to keep momentum between sessions.