About Us

A brief introduction regarding who we are...

Dr. Doug Malm, Psy D, LPC

Doug Malm, Psy D, LPC holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Arizona. Doug is the co-owner/founder of Psychotherapy Innovations. He specializes in providing therapy for individuals, couples, and conducts group therapy. His primary focus involves the use of EFT, CBT, EMDR, ACT, DBT, and effective sex therapy protocols.

Dr. Malm has over seventeen years experience as an individual, couples, and group therapist. Among his areas of expertise are treating depression, anxiety, social anxiety, codependency, trauma, OCD, emotional disregulation, sexual issues, couples and marital issues, and difficulties coping with stress. Dr. Malm is also interested in helping clients be more effective interpersonally though group therapy. Dr. Malm has received extensive training in sex therapy and EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples) and this training is ongoing.

Dr. Malm offers a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, he works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they wish to achieve in the manner that best suits them.

Julie Espinoza, MA, LPC

Julie Espinoza, MA, LPC is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Arizona. Julie is the co-owner/founder of Psychotherapy Innovations. She provides treatment for individuals, couples, family and group therapy. She holds a specialty in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), is an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist, an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist, a Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist via training with MAPS and Polaris Insight Center, and a Compassionate Bereavement Care Provider trained to work with traumatic grief. She has completed core curriculum for sex therapy and receives ongoing training from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT.) She has also received extensive and ongoing training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT and EFIT) for couples and individuals, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Somatic Experiencing Therapy, among others.

Julie has over twenty two years of experience as a practicing therapist for the general population, and in her early career worked extensively with those deemed Severely Mentally Ill (SMI.) She has served as adjunct faculty in a graduate program teaching counseling skills and group skills, conducted workshops in Arizona teaching specialized therapies, and has served as supervisor/faculty in post graduate counseling training programs.

Julie believes that progress in therapy hinges on the therapeutic relationship, the client's commitment to change, and the degree to which the client is willing to witness all parts of themselves. Given these factors, growth is certain. She helps clients learn how to tell the truth about themselves and let go of unhelpful programming in order to obtain the life they desire.

Kelsey Hansen, MAS-MFT, LMFT

Kelsey Hansen, MAS-MFT, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Arizona. She is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Kelsey has training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and (EFIT) for individuals, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Experiential Therapy, and PREPARE/ENRICH for couples.

Kelsey received her Bachelor of Arts in Therapeutic and Community Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University in 2010 and obtained her Master of Advanced Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy from Arizona State University in 2011. She has 9 years of experience working at a social service agency and over 12 years of experience providing psychotherapy for clients of various backgrounds and life stages. She has provided therapy to families, couples, and individuals throughout her career. She has a scope of experience including but not limited to working with people faced with anxiety, depression, life stage transitions, relationship distress, grief/loss, trauma and recovery maintenance. She currently focuses on working with couples and adult individuals, particularly couples who want to remain a team as they get to know each other more and support individual growth and young adults coping with various transitions such as going to college, adjusting to life after higher education, and navigating important relationships.

Kelsey understands that the decision to seek therapy takes courage and is committed to building a respectful, collaborative, and compassionate relationship with clients to work toward goals and improve overall quality of life.

Carmen Caruso, MS, LPC, LPCC, LMHC

Carmen Caruso, MS, LPC, LPCC, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist in Iowa, Minnesota and Arizona (based in Arizona). Carmen works with clients across the lifespan, with a wide scope of experience in anxiety/depression, anger management, grief/loss, life transitions, processing trauma, relationship obstacles, recovery from narcissistic abuse (cluster B) and more. Carmen is trained in EMDR and is currently working towards a greater understanding and certification in Internal Family Systems training (IFS).

Carmen's approach to each of her clients is based off of the individual, meeting
them where they are at, providing support, compassion and understanding as well
as respect for each client and the influences that formed them into the person they
are today. Carmen understands that therapy is not a one size fits all kind of
approach, that it requires fluid and eclectic elements to provide each person with
the psychoeducation and therapeutic interventions necessary to move forward in
each clients path to healing. Carmen utilizes several modalities including

humanistic, Rogerian (empathetic approach), existential theory and cognitive-
behavior therapy.

Carmen is focused on providing her clients with the tools to see real progress: her
style is interactive, non-judgmental, and positions clients as the experts on where
they are now, and where they want to go. A trauma-informed therapist, Carmen is
sensitive to the influence of past experiences on present challenges, and works

closely with clients to reframe the narrative of their life in a way that increases self-
confidence and compassion.

Carmen's first priority in starting with a new client is ensuring that they feel safe,
heard, and as an equal partner in the therapeutic process. Carmen offers the

convenience of remote sessions to help make therapy a core component of your self-
care calendar.

Erica Fardette, LAC

Erica Fardette, LAC, is a licensed associate counselor in the State of Arizona. She has experience working in multiple private practice settings, serving adult individuals and couples with a focus on treating anxiety disorders, including (C-)PTSD. Erica’s training thus far has included the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), Reality Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Currently she is available through telehealth. As a person-centered therapist, she believes in supporting clients with an environment of empathy and unconditional positive regard, tailoring treatment to match the client’s unique needs and working together collaboratively to achieve the client’s goals. She believes in a holistic approach to overall wellness, taking lifestyle factors such as sleep quality and nutrition into account. As a counselor working toward independent licensure, she is looking forward to learning and growing her clinical skills in new areas and likes being kept up-to-date on research in the field of behavioral health.