Therapist profile
Clare O'Toole, LMFT
California
LMFT - Anger and Relationship concerns
Continue with ClareKey details
- CredentialsLMFT
- LicenseLMFT, California / 105247
- NPI1508006511
- Experience20 years
- LanguagesEnglish
- LocationCalifornia
About
- ACT methods
- CBT skills
- Attachment focus
About Clare
Clare O'Toole is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 20 years of clinical experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, anger, trauma and abuse, and life transitions. Clare helps people who feel stuck in patterns, overwhelmed at work or home, or unsure about what comes next.
Her practical style is collaborative and nonjudgmental. Clare listens for how past attachment experiences shape current reactions. She combines that listening with tools drawn from cognitive behavioral approaches and acceptance-based work to help people notice patterns and try new responses.
Sessions focus on clear, usable strategies as well as exploring underlying feelings and relational habits. That can include learning skills for emotion regulation, practicing different ways of communicating, and noticing values and goals that matter to the person. Clare also uses attachment-informed ideas to map how early relationships influence current trust and closeness issues.
Clients often bring worries about career stress, caregiving burnout, ADHD, or repeated relationship problems. Clare supports people working through abandonment fears, commitment concerns, guilt or shame, and issues like infidelity or separation. The emphasis is on steady, practical change rather than quick fixes.
She integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Attachment-Based Therapy, and a client-centered orientation. Clare asks questions, offers straightforward tools, and helps people test new ways of responding to anger and other difficult emotions.
How sessions work
How Clare's approaches translate to online work
Clare uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters to them and to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. ACT can be useful for anger that keeps pulling someone into old reactions, as it focuses on actions that align with personal values.She also uses Attachment-Based Therapy ideas to map how early relationship patterns show up in current partnerships and stress responses. This can help someone understand why certain interactions trigger strong anger or withdrawal. Clare pairs these frameworks with client-centered listening and practical CBT-style skills for managing emotions and problem solving.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Clare will collaborate with the client to decide which combination of ACT, attachment-focused work, CBT skills, or DBT techniques fits best for their goals and preferences. The choice is based on the person's needs and what they want to practice between sessions.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins during a workday, or reduce travel time. It also makes it simpler to continue work if someone moves within the same state. Ask about specific session arrangements when scheduling to match the format to practical needs.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with most?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, anger, trauma, and life changes.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and client-centered, mixing skills training with exploration of attachment patterns.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California.
Are sessions available in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions arranged and what is the cost structure?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her practice?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.