Carol Costner , LPC

Carol Costner is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Alabama with 21 years of experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, depression, grief, and major life transitions. Trained first as a nurse at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, she began her career easing physical suffering in hospital settings before returning to school to earn a Master of Science in Community Counseling from Jacksonville State University and completing her counseling licensure and national counselor certification. Her clinical background blends health care experience with specialized counseling training, which informs a whole-person approach to emotional and relational wellbeing.

Carol practices from a client-centered orientation, believing that each person is the foremost expert on their own life. She integrates solution-focused thinking, mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and narrative perspectives to tailor therapy to each individual's needs. With an emphasis on empathy paired with clear guidance, she helps clients reduce self-criticism while taking practical steps toward change. Carol aims to help people reconnect with their internal compass so they can move toward clearer purpose, improved relationships, and greater emotional balance.

Therapeutic approaches and online care with Carol Costner

Carol uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in ways that help clients clarify what matters most to them and take concrete steps toward those values, even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise. This approach supports people coping with anxiety, depression, and life transitions by fostering committed action alongside acceptance.

She also practices client-centered therapy, which places the client's perspective at the center of work. That means listening deeply, honoring each person's expertise about their life, and creating a warm, nonjudgmental space for exploration, useful for relationship concerns, grief, and self-esteem issues.

Carol incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify and adjust unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT can be especially effective for panic, persistent worry, and mood challenges by offering practical strategies for symptom reduction and skills for longer-term management.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Carol will work with each person to determine which methods fit best given their goals, preferences, and the problems they bring to therapy, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for busy schedules and for those who prefer remote care. These options make it easier to engage in consistent therapy, maintain momentum between sessions, and access support from wherever the client is located within her service area.