Meet carli kilbourne, ms, lpc

Become more you.

I help adults heal from people-pleasing, anxiety, trauma, and relationship wounds. My approach blends evidence-based treatment with curiosity and compassion to support lasting change.

How I work:

I believe you have what it takes to heal inside of you.

Yup, I know it’s cliche but it’s true. I don’t think you’re broken or in need of fixing. You’ve got what it takes to heal the pain you carry — my role is to offer the support, guidance, and space to help you get there.

My approach is down-to-earth, lovingly direct, and deeply human. I believe that what you’re struggling with in the present often has roots in the past. Together, we’ll get curious about the ways you learned to cope, relate to others, and exist in the world. Often, there’s a protective nature to things like anxiety, depression, and people-pleasing. Understanding why these patterns developed helps you have more compassion for yourself and restores your choice in how you want to live moving forward.

I’m a human being, which means I have my own painful experiences and know firsthand how vulnerable therapy can be (shoutout to my therapist). I believe the therapeutic relationship is sacred and powerful. It’s incredible what can happen when a safe, trustworthy person witnesses and holds our pain with us. I don’t take that responsibility lightly, and I have so much respect for the clients who choose to do this work.

I utilize EMDR and parts work (Internal Family Systems) through an attachment lens. I am also quite existential, which means we can look at the big questions of life — who you are, what matters to you, and how you want to live.

More than anything, I want to help you understand yourself more deeply, heal what feels painful, and trust yourself enough to live a life of your choosing.

Guiding Principles of Authentic AF Therapy:

01HUMILITY

I consider myself a “wounded healer” — someone who brings both training and lived experience to this work. I deeply value the relationship we create in therapy and believe the best work happens when we meet each other as humans. Humility means staying curious, honoring that I can never fully know your experience, and creating a relationship where your voice matters.

02COMPASSION

We make a lot more sense when we understand the whole story. The patterns you struggle with today often developed for good reason, and I believe they deserve curiosity and compassion — not more shame. I value creating space for every part of you to be understood, especially the ones you’ve learned to judge the most.

03AUTHENTICITY

Healing is about becoming more of yourself, not less. Self-acceptance drives my passion for this work and witnessing the freedom that comes when people stop trying to be who they should be and embrace their authenticity is what I live for.

04EMPOWERMENT

Every person deserves to feel ownership over their own life. This means having the freedom to trust what you feel, make your own choices, and decide what a meaningful life looks like for you. Therapy should strengthen your relationship with your Self.

Training & Education

Master of Science in Professional Counseling

Licensed Professional Counselor through Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners

EMDR Certified Therapist through EMDRIA

College Professor in Behavioral Health Studies Department

Additional trainings: Parts work (IFS-informed), Somatic Integration Processing, Somatic + EMDR.

specializing in:

People-Pleasing

Anxiety & Grief

Childhood + Family Wounds

Ready to choose yourself and take the next step?

I’m ready to support you!

Book a free intro call and let’s do a vibe check!