Carl Pickel, LCSW
Licensed in California · 30 years in practice
Carl Pickel is a licensed clinical social worker in California with 30 years of experience.
License and registration
- LCSW, California
- 93041 · expires November 2027
- NPI
- 1164966719 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 30
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Carl
Carl Pickel is a licensed clinical social worker in California with 30 years of experience. He helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, and the ups and downs of big life changes. Carl aims to make the first step feel doable and meet people where they are.
He uses straightforward conversation to learn what matters most to each person. Sessions are tailored to individual needs, focusing on practical steps and small changes that build over time.
Background and approach
He listens for patterns that keep problems going and suggests ways to interrupt them. Carl draws from several approaches when shaping a plan. He often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to spot and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
For trauma work he incorporates eye movement desensitization and reprocessing to reduce the hold of painful memories. Mindfulness practices are introduced to help calm the body and steady attention in hard moments. Motivational interviewing and solution-focused methods are used to set realistic goals and strengthen the motivation needed to reach them.
These tools are mixed in based on each person’s goals and what works in practice. Carl keeps language simple and concrete so sessions are easy to follow. People who come to him for help with communication problems, guilt and shame, isolation, life purpose, or social anxiety find a steady, patient guide.
He encourages self-compassion and small, measurable steps toward feeling better.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Carl lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Communication problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Carl names
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How targeted approaches work online
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and change small habits that keep problems going. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and mood concerns by teaching clear coping skills and behavioral experiments. EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, works with memories that continue to cause distress; in sessions it can reduce the emotional charge of those memories so daily life is less disrupted. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus during stressful moments.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist and client discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they choose and adjust methods so sessions feel useful and manageable rather than one-size-fits-all.
Online therapy can make that process easier to fit into life. Video calls let people read facial cues and practice skills in real time. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging allow for ongoing support between sessions and can help maintain momentum. These options offer flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels while keeping the focus on practical tools and steady progress.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Carl focus on?
He supports people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include communication problems, guilt and shame, isolation and loneliness, and social anxiety.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
Carl uses clear, practical conversation and short-term strategies alongside longer work when needed. He aims to set concrete goals and teach skills people can use between sessions.
What background and experience does he have?
He has 30 years of professional experience working with a range of concerns including mood disorders and post-traumatic stress. He emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassionate care.
What credentials and location are listed?
Carl is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, licensed in California. His practice is based in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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