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Carol believes that in relationships - small changes can make a big difference. Carol believes you know yourself better than any other person in the world and at times may realize the need for professional insights to grow in some challenging areas. Instead of repeating the same unsuccessful relationship patterns over and over, small changes may allow for valuable growth.
In basketball metaphor terms: To get better at the skill of basketball free throw shooting - a knowledgeable coach in the science of basketball physics and mental rehearsal can assist by making small changes to increase the percentage of made free throws (swish).
In relationship metaphor terms: To increase relationship satisfaction – a knowledgeable relationship therapist in marriage and family life can assist by highlighting small changes that may make meaningful differences in relationship satisfaction. Small changes in the areas of understanding yourself and your partner, fondness and admiration, turning towards each other, building a positive perspective, managing conflict, emotions exploration, empathy building, making your life dreams come true, creating shared meaning, and building trust may be some of the areas in relationships that can grow with slight adjustments. There are no guarantees of the outcomes, just the opportunity to explore and willingness to notice the outcomes of attempting small changes. Couples can explore their relationship together, or an individual can explore their personal life in the areas of their own relationship realities.
For more information, you can also find me on Gottman Referral Network (GRN).
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Personal Information
Carol was raised on a farm in Indiana, where she grew up connected to a large extended family, played for hours outdoors, cared for animals, engaged in creative cooking, and participated passionately in sports – especially basketball (True Hoosier). At the age of 7 she remembers contemplating social group interactions and outcomes that she observed her community, church, school, 4-H, and the TV news. As a teenager, through the untimely death of a close family member, she became acquainted with grief/loss and family adjustments. Throughout high school and college she enjoyed the many achievements she accomplished on basketball, volleyball, softball, and track and field teams. Let’s just say, running was her gifting and basketball was her love.
As an undergraduate at Ball State University, besides contributing to athletic teams (yes, she made 10 for 10 free throws in one game), she became highly interested in the studies of Psychology of Sports and what motivates athletes to higher levels of achievement. In her first career as a physical education teacher and coach, she loved teaching simple skills that promoted advanced talents to emerge.
Carol’s second career included marriage to a college friend and being at home to raise their four children, one who happens to have special needs. Carol volunteered to coach her children’s sports teams and serve on local charity boards. Upon coaching her oldest daughter’s first basketball team, Carol was asked by her innocent 10-year old, “Mom, you can coach my team. But can you coach?” At the end of the season Carol was delighted to hear, “Mom, you can coach my team anytime.”
In 2003, Carol ventured back to get her second Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. The outcome created the platform for her third career in which Carol is an enthusiastic lifelong learner and voracious reader who is passionate about empowering couples and individuals to explore their challenges and potential, create small changes, and continue to grow with shared and individual meaning throughout life.
Today, Carol still connects regularly with her lifetime enjoyments of gardening, creating delicious foods, road biking, walking on the beach, exercise classes, taking in beauty, reading; and having meaningful connections with her husband of four decades, four adult children, three son-in-law’s, three grandchildren, a grand-dog, a grand-cat, and friends. She also has journeyed with her extended family through the challenging times of hospice care, launching an adult child with special needs, and extensive support with her daughters and son-in-law’s when their babies were born. Nothing like an overflow of oxytocin and sleep deprivation to challenge any relationship and promote small changes! Even in grandparents!
Qualifications
Education
- Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy - California State University, Fresno (2006), Project – Fresno Family Communication Model in Video (FFCM-V) Formatted with Key Educational Teaching Methods ○FFCM-V is currently still presented each semester to MFT students at California State University, Fresno - to promotes couple’s relationship therapeutic interventions).
- Masters of Science degree - Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (1981- Physical Education with Thesis in Psychology of Coaching)
- Bachelors - Ball State University, Muncie, IN (1978 -Teaching and Psychology of Coaching)
Clinical Experience
- Link Care Counseling Center, Fresno, California (2018-2005) – Clinical Counseling for Couples/Individual /Children/Family Counseling with the Global Missionary and Pastor Restoration Program and Community Clients, Case Management, Specialized in Couples
- Fresno Family Counseling Center, Fresno, California (2005-2004) – Individuals/Couples/Families from Fresno Unified School District
- California State University, Fresno – Clinical Counseling of Undergraduate Students (2004)
Advanced Training
- Gottman Relationship Institute – Seattle, Washington - Certified Gottman Therapist (CGT) (2016), Level 3 (2013), Level 2 (2013), Level 1 (2012)
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Level 3, Level 2, Level 1 (2010-09)
- Emotion Freedom Techniques (EFT) Level 2, Level 1 (2016-15)
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT.) Level 1 Four Day Externship with Susan Johnson, PhD in San Diego, California (2008), EFT. Step by Step - Rebecca Jorgenson (Online) (2019)
University Department Head and Faculty
- University of Phoenix - Fresno, CA - Lead Faculty Area Chair for Masters of Counseling Program (2014-2013), Faculty and Advisor for Undergraduate and Graduate Classes (2014-2008)
Public Speaking
- Domestic Presenter: “The Challenging Client” at Flourishing in Pastoral Ministry Conference: Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion Indiana (2014)
- Local Presenter in California: PTSD, Many Faces of Worry, Holiday Survival, Anxiety, Mood, The Challenging Client, Marriage Relationships, Conflict Resolution, Attachments, Grace, Boundaries, Relationship Growth, Healthy Connections (Present – 2007)
Teaching and Coaching
- Physical Education Teacher, Department Head, Head Basketball Coach – Clovis High School, Clovis, California (1983-81)
- Physical Education Instructor and Assistant Basketball Coach – California State University, Fresno, California, (1981-80) Assistant Basketball Coach – Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (1980-79)
- Physical Education Teacher, Department Head, and Head Basketball/Volleyball/Track and Field Coach – Carroll High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana (1979-78)
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Specialties & Issues
- Couples
- Relationships
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief/Loss
- Life Transitions
- Stress
- Christian Spiritual Growth
- Adjustment
- Mood Changes
- Adding Baby to Family
- Emotional Regulation
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Self Esteem
- Caregiver Support
- Work/Life Balance
- Time Management
- Meditation Centering Prayer
- Anxiety
- Balance in Life & Work
- Caregiver Support
- Christian Counseling
- Depression
- Divorce/Separation
- Family Life
- Grief & Loss
- Meditation
- Mental Health
- Mindfulness
- Mood Disorders
- Panic Disorders/Attacks
- Relationship Issues
- Relationships
- Relaxation
- Religious Counseling
- Self Esteem
- Stress Management
- Time Management
- Work/Life Balance
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Approach
Carol is an experienced, organized, collaborative, genuine, and empathic clinician. She honors the courage that it takes to share honestly and create small meaningful changes. She works to create a safe environment that promotes transparency for personal exploration to take place. As a Certified Gottman Therapist, Carol has studied relationships to an advanced level and incorporates the Gottman Relationship Methods in her work with couples. She also can incorporate Emotional Focused Therapy, Emotion Freedom Techniques, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, attachments, human development, trauma-based, empathy, dialectical, experiential, gestalt, and cognitive behavioral theories in her practice. Plainly stated, she is curious to understand you right where you are at in the here and now and explore life from the present moment. Carol realizes that each couple and individual possesses a lot of experiences that are unique to their own lives and forms the personalized therapy accordingly.
What to Expect for Sessions with Couples?
After completing your free consultation and mutual agreement:
- Session 1: Carol will schedule an in-depth 90-minute intake session with you and your partner. During this session, she will gather pertinent information about your personal and relationship history. If a mutual agreement exists to continue, both partners need to sign a “No Secrets Policy” at least 72 hours before next session.
- In Between Session 1 and Sessions 2/3 (Individual): Complete a Gottman Relationship Checkup (GRC). Online link (client self-pay approximately $30) will be sent to both parties and the GRC needs to be completed at least 72 hours before the first individual session with Carol.
- Session 2 and 3 (Individual for both partners): Each partner will meet with Carol on an individual basis (Session 2 is 50-minutes for one individual, Session 3 is 50-minutes for other individual) to clarify insights from their answers on the Gottman Relationship Checkup.
- Session 4 is a join 50-minute session that will go over the Gottman Relationship Checkup and aid in determining the specific course of therapy that might be most helpful for you. Carol will partner with you in creating therapy goals and ensuring that you clearly understand the therapy process. Be mindful that sometimes a referral to Individual Therapy is necessary for the development of the relationship.
- Session 5 and on may be offered as 75-minute couples sessions and are focused on working on the specific goals by meeting the couple right where they are at in the present time, clarify for understanding in self/partner/couple dynamics, assist in identifying challenging areas, promote dialogue, discover small changes, highlight and expand a specific experience, receive directives from Carol for interpersonal insights, and journey towards relationship developments.
- Handouts may be downloaded during session that may assist in building skills for addressing specific goals.
What to Expect for Sessions with Individuals?
After completing your free consultation and mutual agreement:
- Session 1: Carol will schedule an in-depth 90-minute individual therapy session to focus in on gathering pertinent information about your personal history and present realities. During this session goals will be identified and treatment options will be explored.
- Session 2 and thereafter may consist of 50-minute sessions: During this time Carol will attempt to sit with you in your exploration. As you share Carol may assist you to know yourself better, explore unaware areas, highlight your strengths, and challenge you to attend to the here and now to expand on what you are experiencing. At times, she will also gently and directly provide interpersonal feedback that may be challenging and hard to take in and is necessary for your growth and consideration. Carol also welcomes you to openly discuss your experience in therapy and considers your insights in a manner essential to the client/therapist relationship process.
- Handouts may be downloaded during session that may assist in building skills for addressing specific goals.
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Services & Rates
Sessions*:
- 15-minute Initial Consultation: FREE
- 90-minute Intake Session: $270
- 50-minute Individual Psychotherapy Session: $150
- 75-minute Marital Psychotherapy Session: $225
*Payments are accepted in the form of credit/debit card payments through the secure iTherapy payment platform.
Insurance
Carol A. Yoder, LMFT does not accept insurance. A Superbill can be provided for those who would like to submit an insurance reimbursement claim on their own.
Due to the fact that Carol is an Out-of-Network provider, there is no guarantee the insurance company will reimbursed for charges incurred. If you desire to pursue insurance reimbursement, you personally need to contact your insurance provider before treatment begins. Clarity on reimbursement policies and specific instructions for submitting claims will need to be solidified between the client and insurance company. -
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Carol Yoder, LMFT
Certified Gottman Therapist
Serving clients in: California
Address: 867 Pacific Street, Suite 220, San Luis Obispo, California, 93401, United States
Email: CYoder@iTherapymail.com
Phone: (805) 365-6633
Fax: (805) 365-6636
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