Hi, I’m
Catherine Skerl!
Child and adolescent therapist offering in-person therapy in Carlsbad, California and virtual therapy statewide in California.
Meet Catherine Skerl, AMFT (She/Her)
Under supervision of Dr. Elizabeth Solomon Loyola (PSY29471).
Catherine Skerl (AMFT #151541) is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist dedicated to supporting children, teens, and young adults through anxiety, trauma, identity development, and emotional expression. With a warm, affirming, and strengths‑based approach, Catherine creates a safe and welcoming space where clients feel deeply seen, accepted, and empowered to grow. She integrates play, creativity, and cultural understanding into her work, tailoring each session to the unique needs and personality of the client. Whether exploring identity, building emotional tools, or navigating life transitions, she helps young people feel understood, capable, and supported every step of the way.
Therapeutic Approach
Catherine’s therapeutic style is rooted in client-centered, culturally responsive care. She believes that trust, safety, and authenticity form the foundation of meaningful therapeutic work, especially for children and adolescents. Catherine incorporates IFS, CBT, Solution-Focused strategies, PCIT principles, and play-based interventions, often weaving in art, movement, and music to help clients express themselves in ways that feel natural and engaging.
Catherine offers strength-based, affirming care grounded in cultural humility and curiosity. She strives to create judgment-free spaces where young people feel safe to explore who they are, express their emotions, and build confidence in their identities. Guided by the belief that every child and teen has the capacity for positive change, she walks alongside clients as they navigate life’s challenges, helping them develop emotional insight, self-expression, flexibility, and lasting resilience.
Education and Training
Catherine earned her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Education from the University of California, Davis, where she focused on school and child psychology. She then completed her M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Alliant International University.
She has worked as both a school‑based and clinical therapist under supervision, supporting students and families across TK–12 school settings.
Certifications & Additional Training
TF‑CBT training
PCIT training
CPT training
Play Therapy training
Crisis Text Line volunteer and crisis response training
IEP training
Professional Development & Associations
Catherine is dedicated to continuous learning and professional growth. She regularly engages in supervision and attends workshops and trainings to stay up to date with the latest advancements in the field.
Areas of Expertise
Catherine specializes in supporting children, teens, and young adults as they navigate a range of emotional and developmental challenges. Her areas of expertise include anxiety, trauma, ADHD, and emotional regulation, as well as identity exploration and self-esteem, with a particular focus on multiracial identity development. She also helps clients build skills for emotional expression and healthy communication. Catherine is especially passionate about working with multiracial youth and those exploring identity and belonging, an interest deeply connected to her own lived experience.
Services Offered
Catherine provides telehealth therapy statewide in California and in‑person therapy in our Carlsbad, California office for children, adolescents, and young adults. She blends structured evidence‑based interventions with creative, relational work to make therapy engaging, personalized, and developmentally appropriate.
What Inspired Her Journey
Catherine’s path to therapy is deeply personal. Growing up biracial (Chinese and White), she experienced firsthand the complexities of belonging and identity. Finding community with peers who shared her background was transformative, igniting her passion to support multiracial youth and others navigating identity. Catherine also grew up with anxiety and, after learning tools that changed her life, felt compelled to help others who may be struggling quietly or openly. Her work is driven by empathy, advocacy, and the desire to ensure no young person feels alone in their experiences.
Outside the Office
When she's not working, Catherine loves spending time with her rescue pup, Dru, who is an expert cuddler. She enjoys playing PC video games, hiking and jogging in sunny weather, and cozy creative hobbies like drawing, painting, and watching thrillers when it’s gloomy outside. She also enjoys reading - lately she’s been enjoying speculative fiction. She values time spent with friends, creativity, and nature.
