About Carla
Carla Dumas is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois with 31 years of experience helping people manage stress and anxiety. She supports individuals facing relationship strain, grief and loss, parenting challenges, depression, trauma and sleep difficulties. Carla focuses on practical steps people can take now to feel steadier and more capable.
She views each person as the expert in their own life and looks for strengths to build on.
Background and approach
Sessions often start by listening closely to the story and identifying one or two small goals to work on together. Carla keeps things straightforward and goal-oriented so progress feels tangible. Her approach draws on a mix of client-centered methods and cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thoughts and habits.
Emotionally-focused ideas are used when deeper relationship patterns or attachment concerns come up. Trauma-focused methods guide the work when past events are affecting day-to-day functioning. Carla also uses solution-focused strategies to move people toward concrete change between sessions.
She helps with coping skills for mood swings, anger, impulsivity, and managing the practical stressors of caregiving or blended family life. Multicultural concerns, prejudice, and women’s issues are part of her awareness in sessions. People choose Carla for a steady, experienced presence and a clear process.
She aims to make the work feel manageable and to help clients leave sessions with something they can try right away.
How therapeutic approaches work online
Client-centered therapy starts by listening to what matters most to you and following your priorities in session. It helps people feel heard and empowers them to use their own strengths to solve problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing patterns of behavior. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and impulsivity by breaking problems into steps and teaching practical skills. Finding the right approach is often a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences, then suggest a combination of methods to try. Adjustments are made over time based on what helps most, so the work stays focused and relevant to daily life. Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for different schedules. Video is best for full conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when less bandwidth is available or when a shorter check-in fits a break at work. Live chat and messaging suit quick updates, ongoing support between sessions, or when someone prefers not to be on camera. These options can make regular care easier to fit into a busy life.Questions people ask
What kinds of concerns does she support?
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How much experience does she have?
Where is she licensed and based?
Which languages are supported for sessions?
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
Also listed
- 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
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