Carissa Reed
(she/her)
New to Grow
Life can feel heavy when you are carrying anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, or emotional pain while still trying to show up for yourself and the people who depend on you. You may feel overwhelmed, irritable, numb, tearful, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward. In therapy, I offer a calm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you can unpack what you have been holding, better understand your emotions, and learn practical tools to manage life in a healthier way. Together, we will work toward helping you feel more grounded, emotionally balanced, and confident as you navigate healing, growth, and life transitions. When you are ready to take the next step toward feeling more like yourself again, I am here to support you.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Our first session is about helping you feel comfortable, heard, and understood. We will move at a pace that feels supportive as we talk about what led you to therapy, what you have been carrying, and what you would like to change or better manage. I may ask questions about your current symptoms, life stressors, relationships, past experiences, coping skills, and goals so I can understand the full picture of what support looks like for you. This is also a time for you to ask questions, share concerns, and get a feel for whether my approach is the right fit. You do not need to know exactly where to start — we will begin together, one step at a time.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths is my ability to create a calm, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, respected, and emotionally safe. I am able to balance compassion with structure, helping clients explore difficult experiences while also identifying practical steps toward healing and growth. Clients often benefit from my clear, grounded approach to understanding emotions, patterns, stressors, and coping skills in a way that feels manageable rather than overwhelming. I strive to help clients feel more empowered, self-aware, and confident as they work through anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and emotional challenges. My goal is to meet clients where they are while supporting them in moving toward greater stability, clarity, and emotional well-being.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am best positioned to serve teens and adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship stress, family conflict, burnout, low self-esteem, or difficulty managing emotions. My approach is a good fit for clients who want a supportive, nonjudgmental space to better understand themselves, build healthier coping skills, improve communication, strengthen boundaries, and create meaningful change in their lives. I especially enjoy working with clients who may feel overwhelmed, emotionally stuck, or unsure of how to move forward, but are open to healing, self-reflection, and learning practical tools to support their growth.
Specialties
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Life Transitions
Other specialties
Parenting
Peer Relationships
I identify as
Black / African American
Woman
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Teenagers (13 to 17)
Licensed in
South Carolina
Accepts
Arlo
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I meet clients where they are, give them tools they can actually use outside of session, and create measurable progress without getting stuck in endless processing. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in my practice to help clients build awareness of how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected, and then guide them in making intentional changes that support their goals. I start by identifying unhelpful thought patterns and emotional triggers, and then work collaboratively with clients to challenge those thoughts and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. I also incorporate practical strategies like behavioral activation, coping skills, and structured reflection, so clients can apply what they learn in real-life situations. The focus is on creating consistency, building confidence, and helping clients regain a sense of control in their daily lives.
Compassion Focused
I use compassion-focused methods to help clients develop a kinder, more supportive relationship with themselves, especially when they are navigating shame, self-criticism, trauma, anxiety, burnout, or life stress. In practice, I support clients in noticing harsh inner dialogue, understanding the protective patterns behind their emotions, and learning to respond to themselves with more patience, care, and self-awareness. This approach allows clients to build emotional safety, reduce self-judgment, and move toward healing and meaningful change from a place of compassion rather than criticism.
Psychoeducation
I use psychoeducation to help clients better understand their emotions, symptoms, behaviors, and patterns in a way that feels practical and empowering. In practice, I explain concepts such as stress responses, trauma, anxiety, depression, boundaries, coping skills, and communication in clear, relatable language so clients can make sense of what they are experiencing. My goal is to help clients feel informed, less alone, and more equipped to use healthy strategies outside of sessions as they work toward healing and lasting change.
Trauma Informed Care
I integrate trauma-informed care by creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative space where clients feel respected, heard, and empowered. In practice, I recognize that past experiences can shape how clients respond to stress, relationships, emotions, and the world around them. I work to build trust, honor each client’s pace, and support emotional safety while helping clients better understand their patterns, strengthen coping skills, and move toward healing without judgment or pressure.