Dr. Lita Carvalho , LMFT

Dr. Lita Carvalho brings two decades of clinical experience to her practice, combining a background in marriage and family therapy with doctoral-level research in biophysics. She is a board-certified licensed marriage and family therapist based in San Diego, California (LMFT 113252), and she applies a thoughtful, client-centered approach to help people navigate complicated emotional and relational issues.

She works with children, teens, adults, and older adults, offering support for a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, complex post-traumatic stress, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1. Her practice also addresses stress, addiction, relationship and intimacy difficulties, grief, parenting challenges, eating and sleeping disturbances, career concerns, bipolar disorder, and life transitions, as well as focused areas like abandonment, adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, and attachment issues.

Dr. Carvalho relies on evidence-based practices tailored to each individual's needs. Her toolkit includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Twelve Step Facilitation, and trauma-informed methods. She emphasizes collaboration, meeting clients where they are and pacing work according to their readiness and goals.

With a calm, respectful style, she aims to create a space where people feel heard and can explore practical strategies for change. Dr. Carvalho approaches each case with curiosity and clinical rigor, supporting clients as they work toward greater resilience and well-being.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) invites people to clarify their values and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. It can be useful for stress, anxiety, and navigating life changes by building psychological flexibility and purposeful habits.

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on relationships and early life patterns that shape how people connect with others. This approach can help with intimacy-related issues, abandonment concerns, family dynamics, and repairing relationship patterns that contribute to ongoing distress.

Dr. Carvalho approaches treatment collaboratively, recognizing that finding the right methods is part of the therapeutic process. She works with clients to identify which approaches fit their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers practical flexibility - sessions by video or phone, and options for live chat or text-based messaging make it easier to receive consistent care alongside work, family, and other commitments. These remote formats support regular contact and can increase access to therapy for people across California who need adaptable scheduling and ongoing therapeutic support.