- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Narrative work
About Charlene
Charlene Black is a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with nine years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and parenting concerns. Charlene also addresses depression, relationship struggles, grief, anger, self-esteem, career worries, and coping with life changes.
Charlene sees people as the experts on their own stories and looks for existing strengths to build on. She uses clear, practical conversation to identify patterns that cause trouble and to try different ways of responding. Sessions focus on what a person wants to change and small steps they can try between meetings.
Her work draws on several approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to examine thoughts and behaviors, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotional regulation, and Narrative Therapy to reframe difficult experiences. She mixes these methods to fit the problem at hand rather than following one strict model.
In early meetings Charlene concentrates on concrete goals and immediate coping tools. For people dealing with parenting stress or family tension, she offers ways to improve communication and set reasonable boundaries. For trauma and grief she balances addressing painful memories with strategies to manage distress in daily life.
Charlene explains clinical ideas in plain language and keeps sessions focused and practical. She asks about what is working and what feels stuck, then helps plan the next steps. This approach is meant to be straightforward and useful for people navigating early adult responsibilities and life transitions.
How her approaches translate to online work
Charlene commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her work. CBT helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood. DBT offers practical skills for managing intense emotions, distress tolerance, and improving relationships.Choosing the best approach is collaborative. She will talk with each person about their goals, needs, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which strategies to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Confirm the specific session formats she uses before booking, since formats were not specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around school, work, and caregiving by removing commute time and allowing meetings from wherever you are that day. Phone sessions can be useful for shorter check-ins or when bandwidth is limited. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation when that feels important. These practical options help people keep therapy consistent while managing early adult life demands.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
9+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting, depression, relationship issues, grief, anger, self-esteem, career concerns and coping with life changes.
What is her approach to therapy?
She combines practical methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy with Narrative and psychodynamic ideas. Sessions focus on clear goals and small, real-world steps.
How much experience does she have?
She has nine years of professional experience working with adults on the issues listed in her profile.
Is she licensed and where does she practice?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and practices with that credential in that state.
Does she work in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.