Carley Rothstein

Carley Rothstein, LCSW, began her professional path as an Exceptional Children’s teacher in a North Carolina school district. She later ran a tutoring and behavioral intervention business and provided Community Based Rehabilitative Services for the NC infant-toddler program. Her training includes a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State World Campus.

She has eight years of clinical experience offering outpatient therapy to people facing depression, anxiety, trauma, and complex behavioral needs. Her work has included school-based psychotherapy and integrated behavioral health in medical and clinic settings. She has supported people navigating foster care and adoption, LGBTQIA+ concerns, ADHD, autism, self-harm, and suicidality.

Carley also has experience with adult concerns linked to aging, dementia-related behaviors, and end-of-life transitions, and she has worked in group homes and assisted-living facilities. Her approach centers on the person in front of her, aiming to understand each individual’s story before planning next steps. She emphasizes practical skills and coping strategies that are useful day to day.

In sessions she draws on client-centered methods alongside cognitive behavioral and dialectical skills, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. The focus is on clear, manageable steps people can try between sessions to ease stress, reduce anger, and improve sleep and relationships.

Outside of work she spends time with her son and their pets and advocates for the special needs community. She aims to help people find a calmer, better-balanced life while respecting each person’s unique background and goals.

How her approaches fit into online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person’s goals and experience. It helps people who want a respectful space to be heard and to build a plan at their own pace.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical tools to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, anger, sleep problems, and many everyday challenges.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationships. It can be helpful for people who need tools for emotional regulation and distress tolerance.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can change over time as progress is made.

Because session formats are not specified in the biography, confirm the current online options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or remove travel time. Many people find that working with a licensed professional remotely lets them practice new skills in the context of everyday life and maintain consistency with their care.