Carmel Matallana, LCSW
Helping people rewrite stories and build resilience
Details
| Name | Carmel Matallana |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | Texas |
| Licensed in | Texas |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 25 |
About Carmel
Carmel Matallana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Texas with 25 years of experience. She brings a practical, person-focused approach to therapy and aims to make first steps feel manageable for people under stress. Carmel uses narrative ideas alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered work to help people tell the stories that shape their lives.
She also draws on cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior approaches when practical skills are needed for mood, anxiety, or behavior changes.
Background and approach
In sessions she listens for the patterns that cause stuckness and helps people test new ways of thinking and acting. Conversations are aimed at building resilience, managing strong emotions, and improving everyday functioning like sleep, eating, and work performance. She has experience helping people cope with life transitions, grief, trauma and abuse, and addiction concerns.
Carmel also supports those facing identity and intimacy-related issues, relationship and communication problems, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and challenges tied to adoption or abandonment. Carmel offers a mix of short-term skill work and longer-term narrative work depending on what each person needs. Her practice uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging so therapy can fit into a busy life.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression among the things Carmel works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Carmel among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Carmel directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Carmel directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
Narrative and ACT approaches for online care
Many people benefit from Narrative Therapy because it helps separate a person from the problems they live with. Narrative work invites people to tell their story differently and test new meanings for their experience, which can reduce shame and open new choices.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on values and small committed actions. It teaches ways to notice difficult thoughts and feelings while still moving toward what matters, which can help with anxiety, depression, and major life changes.
Client-centered work emphasizes respectful listening and support. It gives space for a person to be heard and to make decisions at their own pace, which complements skill-based interventions.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to decide whether narrative exploration, ACT skills, or more direct behavioral strategies will best match their goals and daily life needs.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for full conversations and learning skills with visual cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a quieter space is needed. Live chat and text are good for brief check-ins, coaching-style support, or when typing feels easier than talking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, and other routines.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns does Carmel address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, ADHD, self-esteem, and many life changes. Additional focus areas include relationship issues, body image, caregiver stress, and chronic illness.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style blends Narrative work with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered listening. She also uses cognitive behavioral and dialectical skills when practical strategies are helpful.
What is her background and experience?
She has 25 years of professional experience and previously worked as a rehabilitation counselor. That history informs a practical, problem-solving focus in sessions.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - licensed in Texas and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and communication preferences.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model. The subscription can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Carmel are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Carmel where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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