I’m happy you’re here!

The most valuable piece of healing in therapy is our relationship. It’s really important that you can feel comfortable expressing yourself, giving me feedback, and ultimately feel connected.

That’s why I offer at free 15-minute consultation before we officially start sessions (here’s a Questionnaire to get us started); so you know if this feels like the right match for you.

I hope that the information below can help you understand more about me and if the work I do aligns with your needs.

small Carly Shaul, LMFT. White Person standing with brown hair and glasses in a black shirt and purple hands. They have their left hand on their hip and their right hand touching her clavicle, with a big smile.

My Credentials

This is just a little bit about my education/experience to give you some context into my professional background:

  • I received my Master’s Degree in Psychology from the WASC Senior College and University Commission-accredited program at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

  • I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California.

  • I am EMDR Trained.

  • I am also trained in Levels 1 & 2 of Gottman Therapy.

  • I am currently in training and supervision to be a certified AASECT Sex Therapist.

My Journey

Carly Shaul, LMFT. A white person with brown hair and glasses, giving a big smile. She is stilling on a couch with one arm perched on the arm of the couch and her head resting on her hand.

Carly Shaul (she/they)
LMFT #134759

I grew up as a quiet, bisexual, neurodivergent kiddo who didn’t know how to cope with big feelings, felt confusion about connecting with others, and didn’t know how to voice my own wants and needs.

However, I cared a lot about the people around me and loved hearing others’ life stories (to the point where I felt it was my reason for living). It’s not difficult to see that I thrive off of making space for others to shine.

I coped with this the best way I knew how: I overachieved and learned all I could about human psychology. I graduated one year early from my undergraduate degree at UC Santa Cruz (go banana slugs) and went directly into my Master’s program at Cal Poly SLO.

It turns out when you only think and don’t feel, you get sick and burn out pretty quickly. I learned this the hard way so you don’t have to!

I gained skills in my own therapy to recognize and feel my emotions, decreasing my burnout, and allowing me to gain the self-confidence I never felt before.

Today, I use my natural strengths (genuinely caring about others and my gained knowledge in psychology) to help other people feel better than I did.

Together we can work towards gaining your own voice to express your feelings and allow you to not feel you need to be perfect in order to ask for what you want. We can make space to talk about your pain and worries, allowing you to let go of what you’ve been holding inside. I want you to feel genuinely cared for, to know you’re not alone and that what you feel today is normal!

Some identities & realities that inform their lived experiences:

  • Bisexual

  • Gender Queer

  • Grew up middle class

  • white

  • straight size

  • Jewish

  • Perceived as able-bodied, immunocompromized

  • 2nd generation U.S. Citizen

  • Granddaughter of African & Iraqi immigrants

  • English speaking

  • Neurodivergent

  • in her 20’s

  • Sister, daughter, partner, and bestie to others

Carly Shaul, LMFT. A circular image of a white person with long brown hair and glasses, smiling in a "be nice to me" black sweater with Remy the rat on her their shoulder.

(some of ) My Strengths

Grounded
& Caring

I am a lover girl. I care about everyone I meet and try my best to create a grounded space where people can feel comfortable enough to share thoughts they haven’t shared with anyone else.

While I am able to compartmentalize, I do think about what could be helpful for clients outside of work and want to do the best I can to make others feel seen through sending resources I find.

Creative
Silliness

Sometimes therapy is about crying your heart out and sometimes it’s about connecting over a funny experience or embracing a moment of joy during a hard week.

Some of my favorite moments in session are when we can find release through silliness (dancing to a song, making up a story about a rude person that impacted you, creating play in your life to enrich your inner child).

I hope you can bring all of your pieces into the room with me, including the silly parts.

Shared Knowledge
& Resources

I am grateful to have learned so much from my continuing education as a therapist and in my lived experiences as a human. I wish everyone knew what I do - so I try my best to give that to you.

While I’m not a directive/structured therapist, I love to do experiments in and out of session using the resources I know about.

I want you to feel you know yourself better in this process and empowered to take your life into your own hands through your own lived experience and the knowledge/resources I share with you.