Dr. Lita Carvalho, LMFT
Supportive therapist for parenting and life challenges
Explore online therapy options- Years in practice
- 20
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Relationship issues
About Lita
Dr. Lita Carvalho offers help for parents and individuals facing common and complex concerns such as stress, anxiety, addictions, parenting struggles, grief, trauma, depression, ADHD, and relationship or intimacy-related issues. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with two decades of clinical experience.
Her style is warm and straightforward and aimed at people who feel nervous about starting therapy. She uses practical, evidence-based methods to address problems that get in the way of daily life.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on learning tools for coping, improving communication, managing strong emotions, and handling parenting challenges. Conversations are collaborative and paced to match what each person needs. Dr.
Carvalho blends approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with attachment-focused work and client-centered listening. That mix helps uncover patterns, change unhelpful thoughts, and build values-based goals. She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills when emotion regulation and distress tolerance are priorities.
Her background includes 20 years in mental health and doctoral research experience in biophysics. She emphasizes clear, practical steps and skill practice between sessions. Many people find this blend useful for making steady changes without feeling overwhelmed.
For parents, she offers focused support around parenting stress, blended family dynamics, adoption or foster care issues, and balancing caregiving demands. Conversations are aimed at usable strategies that fit a busy family life.
What Lita works with
Everything Lita lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Lita helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hearing impaired
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Trichotillomania
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Lita lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Imago Relationship Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
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 that translate well to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings are present. It focuses on small, values-driven steps and practical exercises that can be practiced between sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches strategies to change unhelpful thinking and habits; it is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating issues, and many everyday problems. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early connection patterns affect current relationships and parenting, helping people shift interaction styles and build more stable bonds.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to identify goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust the plan based on what helps. That collaborative process means approaches may be blended and tailored over time to match needs and preferences.
Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide practical flexibility. Video lets people use face-to-face interaction for skill teaching and role practice. Phone calls can work when bandwidth is limited or a simpler check-in is needed. Live chat or messaging is helpful for brief check-ins, coaching prompts, or when someone prefers typed communication. These options make it easier to fit therapy around parenting schedules and other life demands.
Questions people ask about Lita
What concerns does she help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, parenting challenges, grief, ADHD, intimacy issues, sleep and eating concerns, anger, and career or self-esteem struggles.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative with a direct, practical focus. Sessions aim to teach skills, clarify values, and set achievable steps for change.
What is her professional background?
She has 20 years of experience in mental health and holds doctoral research experience in biophysics alongside clinical work.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available online?
Therapy sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does billing and cost work?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a session?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on therapist availability.
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