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CC Portrait of Carol Costner

Carol Costner

Compassionate, experienced counselor guiding practical change

LPC Alabama

Experience
21 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Carol

About Carol

Carol Costner is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) based in Alabama who focuses on helping people move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling more capable and purposeful in daily life.

Background and approach

With 21 years of experience, she supports clients facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, relationship difficulties, anger, and issues related to self-esteem and career. Her work also addresses panic disorder, communication problems, guilt and shame, life purpose, and compassion fatigue.

Her approach blends practical, evidence-informed methods with a respectful, person-centered stance. Carol draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and mindfulness practices to tailor care to each person’s needs.

She emphasizes empathy while also offering direct guidance so clients can build skills, notice unhelpful patterns, and practice new ways of coping. Carol’s background includes training in nursing and community counseling and a long career working in varied clinical settings.

She invites those seeking change to begin with a clear conversation about goals and preferences and to co-create a pathway toward greater balance and wellbeing.

Online Therapy with Practical, Mindful Approaches

Carol integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in online work to address unhelpful thinking and increase meaningful action. CBT focuses on recognizing and shifting patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to anxiety, panic, depression, and stress. ACT emphasizes values-driven choices and skills for accepting difficult feelings while moving toward a more engaged life.

She also uses client-centered and mindfulness-based elements to create a compassionate, present-focused therapeutic space. Finding the right combination of methods is treated as a collaborative process; the therapist and client explore goals, preferences, and responses to different techniques to determine what feels most helpful for the individual.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for people balancing work, family, or other commitments. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to practice skills between sessions, while allowing clients to choose formats that fit their routines and comfort levels.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Carol commonly address?
She works with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and parenting challenges, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, compassion fatigue, and panic attacks.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative, combining empathy with direct coaching and skill building using approaches like CBT, ACT, and mindfulness.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Carol brings 21 years of experience working in a variety of settings with people facing emotional and relational difficulties.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with license AL LPC 2866 and practices out of Alabama.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She is not currently accepting international clients; services are provided to clients in locations that match her practice rules.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Sessions are available as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in getting started?
To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseDepressionCoping with life changes

Also works with

Family conflictsGriefParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Communication problemsGuilt and shameLife purposePanic disorder and panic attacks

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness Therapy

Experience

21+ years

Licensed

Alabama

Languages

English