Oscar Carbajal, LMFT

Welcome! Happy that you are taking the time to get to know a bit about me. I am a Licensed and Marriage Family Therapist for the State of California. I’ve been practicing for about 10 years in this field, and I cannot stress enough how passionate I am about the work that I provide.

My personality is kind, understanding and empathetic. These qualities influence safety and sincerity in therapy, which are two very important factors in the development of a therapeutic relationship. I strive to understand others at their deepest level with compassion and curiosity. Much of my training and expertise revolve around; addiction, substance abuse, complex trauma, anxiety and depression. I am certified in: EMDR, DBT, CBT, Love Made Simple, Gottman (levels 1 and 2).

Issues that I address in therapy range from: substance abuse, addictions, trauma, depression, anxiety and conflicts in relationships. The approaches that I implement to treat such issues are a blend, but primarily focus on those that are evidence-based. I’ve obtained training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I understand the need for skills and the difference that these can make in the life of clients, but also have the ability to shift and tackle issues that are rooted in trauma.

Extensive practice using DBT, CBT IFS, EMDR, and Love Made Simple have demonstrated to be the most effective in treating problems previously mentioned. However, I am one to believe that without a strong therapeutic alliance, any skill can fall short. As a result, one of the primary philosophies that I rely on comes from developing a strong and safe therapeutic alliance. For this, I utilize a Client Centered Approach by implementing unconditional positive regard, genuineness and empathy.

Coming to therapy is difficult to begin with. Having to share some of the most intimate and distressing moments with a “stranger” many times shy individuals from obtaining services. As a result, having a safe space that is free of judgment or assumptions is crucial. The development of a strong therapeutic alliance takes time. Factors that contribute to this strong alliance include: genuineness, empathy, validation, understanding, and respect. In session, I make it a point to pay full attention to my client and their needs, struggles, barriers, collaboration and expectation.

I firmly believe in the uniqueness of every individual or unit of treatment. Given that we are all different, yet alike in some ways, my treatment is centered around the needs of the individual and what he/she thinks would work for them. Given that not every skill may work for everyone, I make it a point to have enough of these to teach clients in the hopes that one or many of these may work.