Dr. Carole Matlen, CA Psychologist
Experienced psychologist helping parents and individuals
Book with Carole- Years in practice
- 30
- Credentials
- CA Psychologist
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Carole
Dr. Carole Matlen is a California psychologist with three decades of clinical experience. She brings a long career in clinical practice plus a background in teaching and ministry to her work.
Her focus includes stress, anxiety, depression, parenting, grief, trauma and relationship challenges. She has worked in many different clinical settings, which gives her a broad view of how people get stuck and how they move forward. Her approach aims to build on a person's strengths and boost self‑confidence while addressing specific problems like anger, eating concerns, or addiction.
Background and approach
Dr. Matlen uses practical techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral methods to address immediate thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on client-centered and attachment-informed ideas to strengthen relationships and emotional connection.
Emotion-focused and existential ideas are used when clients want to understand deeper meaning or past roots of current struggles. Sessions tend to be collaborative and paced to each person's needs. Conversations focus on clear, workable steps while also making room to process grief, loss, and trauma.
Parents who feel overwhelmed or unsure about parenting choices can get practical support and strategies. Her work covers a wide range of concerns, including blended family issues, adoption and foster care questions, body image, codependency, and coping with life changes. Dr.
Matlen aims to help people identify options, try new behaviors, and build a life that matches their values and goals.
What Carole works with
Everything Carole lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Carole helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Carole lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches for online parenting and life challenges
Dr. Matlen commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online work. ACT helps people notice what matters to them and take action toward those values while accepting difficult feelings. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and trying new behaviors to reduce anxiety or depression.She also draws on attachment-informed ideas to address how early relationship patterns affect current connections and parenting. Attachment-based approaches look at ways to increase trust, repair ruptures, and improve emotional attunement with important people. Choosing an approach is collaborative - the therapist will discuss options and tailor methods to the client's needs, goals, and preferences as sessions progress.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video calls let people use visual cues and longer conversation, phone can be used when bandwidth is limited, live chat offers a shorter check-in, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy parenting schedules and different lifestyles.
Questions people ask about Carole
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, parenting concerns, grief, trauma and relationship issues, plus related topics such as body image, addictions, and codependency.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and strengths-focused, combining practical strategies with time to process emotions and explore relationship patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has around 30 years of experience in a variety of clinical settings and a background in teaching and ministry that informs her perspective.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is listed as CA Psychologist 17461 and practices in California.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What formats are available for therapy sessions?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.
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