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LMFT

Clare O'Toole, LMFT

  • Experience20 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Clare

Clare O'Toole is a licensed marriage and family therapist who works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, and life transitions. With 20 years of clinical experience, she creates a collaborative, nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore patterns, process difficult emotions, and build practical coping skills.

Background and approach

Clare blends evidence-based methods such as Internal Family Systems with cognitive and behavioral techniques to tailor therapy to each person's needs. Her work emphasizes connection - both to oneself and to others - and she draws on attachment-informed perspectives and acceptance-based strategies to support healing after loss, betrayal, or chronic stress.

Clare also integrates coaching elements when clients want forward-focused help with career concerns, decision-making, or managing chronic caregiving strain. She offers sessions in English and practices in California as LMFT CA 105247, using flexible online formats including video, phone, chat, and messaging so people can engage in therapy in ways that fit their schedules.

Integrating relational and acceptance-based approaches online

Clare commonly uses Internal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as part of her online practice. Internal Family Systems helps people notice and relate to different inner parts with curiosity and compassion so they can reduce internal conflict and heal from trauma. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy invites clients to clarify values and take committed action while learning skills to tolerate difficult thoughts and feelings, which can be helpful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Clare will work with each client to explore which methods feel most useful based on goals, preferences, and challenges, combining attachment-informed, client-centered, and cognitive-behavioral tools as needed to create a tailored plan.

Online therapy with Clare is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or busy schedules. These formats make it easier to stay consistent with sessions and to practice new skills between meetings while meeting from locations that work best for the client.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Clare commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, relationship and family issues, anger, coping with life changes, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and related areas such as attachment and abandonment concerns.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Clare takes a collaborative, nonjudgmental, and attuned approach that mixes client-centered care with evidence-based techniques to meet each client where they are.
How much clinical experience does she bring?
She has 20 years of experience working with adults across a range of concerns and has continued training in attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and emotionally focused approaches.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Clare is a licensed marriage and family therapist with the credential CA LMFT 105247 and she practices in California.
Does she offer therapy in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English only, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available?
Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are sessions priced and billed?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process to begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsAnger managementCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English