Dr. Lita Carvalho , LMFT

Dr. Lita Carvalho is a board certified licensed marriage and family therapist and a doctorate researcher in biophysics who brings two decades of experience to her clinical work. She practices as an LMFT - a licensed marriage and family therapist - and offers evidence-based care informed by both clinical training and scientific inquiry. Her practice in California includes work with children, teens, adults, and older adults, and she addresses a wide range of concerns such as anxiety, depression, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1.

Dr. Carvalho uses a variety of evidence-based practices to tailor treatment to each person, drawing on approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Twelve Step Facilitation, and trauma-informed methods. Her client-centered orientation emphasizes collaboration, pacing care to the individual, and creating a respectful space for exploration and growth. With a focus on relational patterns, coping skills, and practical strategies, she supports people navigating stress, addiction, grief, relationship and family challenges, and other emotional or behavioral health concerns.

Throughout her work she aims to meet clients where they are, partnering to define goals and build sustainable tools for managing life changes and improving well-being. Dr. Carvalho combines clinical experience and research sensibility to adapt interventions that fit each person’s needs and goals.

Approaches That Inform Online Care with Dr. Carvalho

Dr. Carvalho incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and take committed steps toward a meaningful life. ACT can be useful for anxiety, depression, and long-standing patterns that get in the way of goals.

Attachment-Based Therapy is used to explore relational patterns that influence emotional responses and intimacy. This approach can help people repair or strengthen connections in family and romantic relationships and address issues rooted in early attachment experiences.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and is decided collaboratively. Dr. Carvalho works with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time as progress and circumstances evolve.

Online therapy with Dr. Carvalho is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain consistent care during life transitions, manage ongoing stressors, and practice skills between sessions with support from licensed professionals and therapists.