Therapist Rick Carter Photo

Rick Carter, LMFT

Stress, Anxiety Addictions LGBTQ+ Relationships
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

I have worked in the mental health industry with many different types of clients for almost two decades. I specialize in working with those who struggle with intimacy/sex issues, those who are in a relationship with someone who is emotionally abusive and/or a narcissist, those who are codependent or people pleasers, those who have suffered trauma in childhood due to emotional and physical abuse (I have not had experience working with those who have suffered from sexual abuse.) I have worked with many women who feel lonely in their relationship due to husbands that neglect them and are potentially having affairs and/or cheating and hooking up with others. I have worked with hundreds of straight and gay men who are having issues with sexual addiction of some sort whether, hooking up, hiring escorts and masseuses/masseurs, exploring bisexuality and/or non-monogamy, Facebook flirting, excessive porn watching, and so forth. I have also worked with many clients who are having existential or midlife concerns and feel lost or directionless at this point in their lives. I have also worked with many clients who feel overwhelmed in life and are having difficulty managing stress and anxiety associated with day to day living.

The style of therapy that I use most often is interactive in nature (modern therapy) and Solution-Focused. I believe that we all need to process our feelings, but then at some point, create solutions for solving our problems to avoid sinking into deep depression and a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. I also do a lot of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) so that we can work together to explore some of your thinking and behaviors that are keeping you stuck in your life. Often times, we don't realize that we have created a number of unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior, which can sabotage our efforts for attaining the things we value in life, whether professionally and/or personally. We all have our blind spots, and I have helped hundreds of clients explore the ways in which they get in their own way, often repeating destructive patterns that leave them baffled and confused.

Clients who are interested in learning more about the origins of their patterns will often benefit from psychodynamic therapy. I find this modality very useful in determining how we recreate patterns of behavior that started in childhood. Often times we don't even realize that we are stuck on autopilot as we continue to react to situations in adulthood as if we were still helpless children. Once we "snap" out of that trance, we can manage our lives more effectively which will result in decreased anxiety, stress and depression.

I love to help people get unstuck. It is very rewarding to me to see clients work through their issues so that they can eventually soar in life, as opposed to struggling just to get through each day. I love health in general, whether emotionally, physically, mentally and/or spiritually. I love to work out at the gym, yoga, meditation, reading, theatre and travel. I also enjoy one-on-conversations with those who are willing to know themselves better so they do not struggle so much in their lives. Self-awareness makes us interesting people, and we are then less likely to blame our life situations on others. When we are able to take full responsibility for our lives, we feel much more confident, secure, motivated and happy. When we think that our fate is in the hands of others, or our past, we are much more likely to feel depressed, anxious and overwhelmed - and lack confidence while operating in life from a place of unnecessary low self-esteem.

If you believe we would be a good match, please don't sit in silence. Reach out for help. I'm here.

Peace.

Rick Carter.

Professional experience

19yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Addictions LGBTQ+ Relationships

Additional areas of focus: Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Depression

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

CA LMFT 38540