Accepting New Clients

Playful, somatic, trauma-informed therapy.

Hands of two people facing each other in the therapy office of Carly Rose Bretl, LMFT, with an ornate rug in the background

It begins with connection. Maybe you want to feel grounded. Maybe you want to feel good. Or maybe you want to trust your gut.

Whatever is keeping you down deserves care.

Therapy works when a connected, safe-enough relationship becomes a container for a collaborative, creative process that doesn’t shy away from the truth and welcomes all of you.

If you want to feel better and this resonates…

Let’s Talk →

Welcome In Your True Self

Black and white illustration of a branch of nettle, a medicinal plant with several serrated leaves and a tall, flowering stem.
Tall, dry, rust-colored flowers leaning toward river near therapy office

Are you a creative? Entrepreneur? Parent?

Do you find yourself wanting more joy, connection or peace?

If you’re feeling stuck, struggling in relationships or if therapy has failed you before maybe it’s time to try something new.

Maybe you over-function and are a perfectionist, or find it hard to manage your time, or rest. Perhaps you feel isolated, depressed or lonely.

Have you been told you’re “too much,” “too sensitive” or flakey?

If this sounds familiar, you might be ready for a different kind of therapy.

-> Enter talk or no-talk therapy

For rapid trauma resolution, creative processing, and deep cortical and nervous system resilience.

In person in Santa Cruz, CA

or

Online from anywhere in CA

Modalities

Me

Carly Rose Bretl, LMFT, therapist in Santa Cruz, CA, wearing blue and black patterned sweater, head tilted and smiling at someone beside her

Hello, I’m Carly.

I’m a 5th generation Santa Cruz local and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist.

It is a privilege to support people who want to feel better in themselves and with others.

I’m passionate about healing old wounds and patterns, strengthening nervous systems, and fostering personal and communal change.

More about me

The Buildings
@550 Water St

Aaron Green, Architect

Unique, historic,
central Santa Cruz, CA

The Space

Comfy gray chair beside blue-green metal drawer cabinet with antique clock, hand sanitizer and plant on top in office of Carly Rose Bretl, LMFT, therapist in Santa Cruz, CA

The Office

Make yourself
at home.

Child, Disability, LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC friendly, of course.

A narrow dirt trail running through a grassy field toward a forest.
Black and white photo of modern buildings with geometric designs and flat roofs where therapy office of Carly Rose Bretl, LMFT, is located in Santa Cruz, California. Trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A forest with numerous dead, charred trees under which abundant, new green growth thrives. The sky is blue with some wispy clouds.
A wooden shelf holds a potted plant with shiny, green leaves, and small decorative figurines including miniature trees, animals, and cultural statues for symbolic communication in talk or no-talk therapy sessions. Row of books leans beside the plant.
Close-up of dry, light brown sand with small footprints and uneven surface.
Close-up of cozy, gray chair in therapy office of Carly Rose Bretl, LMFT, beside a small, teal table with an antique clock, a potted plant, a bottle of hand sanitizer gel on top. Sunlight sifts through white curtains, brightening the space.
Various small decorative items on a wooden shelf, including a miniature church, a ceramic pig, a colorful bird ornament, a small Disque Corn cereal box, and other figurines and trinkets for symbolic communication in talk or no-talk therapy sessions.
Animal skull on the forest floor covered with dried leaves and small flowers.
Circular sand drawing, a blue crescent shape, several glass or plastic rocks, and small wooden discs, depicting sandplay therapy in talk or no-talk therapy sessions.
A detailed image of a colorful nebula in deep space with bright stars and cosmic dust.

See you soon.

See you soon.

Let’s Talk →