LPC, 3 years of experience
You’re the one everyone counts on—the strong one, the dependable one. But lately, holding it all together feels heavier than ever. Maybe you’re stuck in old patterns, questioning your worth, or silently battling people-pleasing, perfectionism, or the weight of unhealed trauma. On the outside, you might look like you're doing fine, but inside, you're just trying to keep from falling apart. Hi, I’m Marisa—a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting women who appear to have it all together but are quietly carrying the emotional weight of anxiety, overwhelm, and unresolved pain. One thing I’ve noticed again and again in my work is that years of internalizing and compartmentalizing emotional pain often begin to surface—not just mentally, but physically and relationally. What’s carried silently inside eventually starts to disrupt life on the outside. This realization deepened my passion for supporting women in their holistic wellness—because true healing includes mind, body, and soul. In our work together, you’ll have a space to just be—a space where you don’t have to perform or have it all figured out. I use a holistic, trauma-informed approach that weaves together evidence-based practices like CBT, ACT, and mindfulness to help you reconnect with yourself, feel grounded again, and move forward with confidence and clarity.
Our first session is all about you—your story, your experiences, and what’s bringing you to therapy. It’s a chance for you to feel seen, heard, and prioritized in a space that’s supportive and judgment-free. We’ll gently explore the patterns, challenges, or life experiences that may be weighing you down. I’ll ask thoughtful, grounding questions to begin understanding your inner world, and together, we’ll set intentions for the path ahead. Most importantly, there’s no pressure—you set the pace, and I’ll be right there with you every step of the way.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to put people at ease. Many clients have shared that they were nervous about starting therapy—especially for the first time or after a not-so-great experience—but quickly felt comfortable and safe with me. I believe that comes from showing up as my full, authentic self: not just as a therapist, but as a woman who truly gets it. I also bring a deep sense of emotional intelligence and empathy into the room. Clients often tell me I “just get it”—that I know what to say and when to say it, in a way that helps them feel seen, validated, and supported exactly where they are.
I support women who are used to being the strong one—the helper, the achiever, the one who always shows up for everyone else. On the surface, life may look successful, but underneath, you’re battling anxiety, self-doubt, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or the weight of unhealed trauma. You may be navigating a life transition, grief, burnout, or simply feeling emotionally depleted from always holding it together. If you’re ready to stop just surviving and start truly healing, I offer a space where you don’t have to carry it all alone—a space where you can breathe, feel seen, and begin to reconnect with your most authentic self.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift the distorted thought patterns that often contribute to anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. By teaching clients how to recognize unhelpful beliefs—such as catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking—and replace them with more balanced, realistic perspectives, CBT builds emotional resilience and promotes lasting behavioral change. For example, clients struggling with social anxiety often learn to challenge assumptions about how others perceive them, which reduces avoidance and increases confidence in social situations.
I utilize Schema Therapy to help clients identify and heal long-standing emotional patterns, or “schemas,” that often originate from unmet core needs in early life. These schemas can manifest as chronic self-criticism, fear of abandonment, people-pleasing, or other deeply ingrained beliefs that shape how individuals relate to themselves and others. In therapy, we work collaboratively to recognize these patterns, explore their developmental origins, and develop healthier coping strategies. Schema Therapy integrates cognitive, behavioral, and experiential techniques to challenge maladaptive schemas, address unmet emotional needs, and foster a more compassionate, resilient sense of self. The goal of this work is to support clients in moving beyond entrenched survival strategies, breaking cycles that no longer serve them, and cultivating emotional safety, self-trust, and more fulfilling relationships.
As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), I approach therapy through a trauma-informed lens, creating a space that emphasizes safety, trust, and empowerment. I help clients understand how trauma lives in the body and how it shapes emotional and relational patterns. I use Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to guide clients in processing painful memories, reducing emotional reactivity, and reestablishing a sense of internal control. This approach is especially effective for those healing from childhood abuse, neglect, or relational trauma, using tools like gradual exposure, cognitive restructuring, and emotional regulation exercises.
I provide therapeutic support for individuals impacted by racial trauma, helping clients process and heal from the emotional, psychological, and interpersonal effects of discrimination, microaggressions, and systemic oppression. Racial trauma can manifest as anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, mistrust, or internalized negative beliefs, often affecting one’s sense of safety, identity, and belonging. In therapy, we work together to validate these experiences, understand their impact, and develop adaptive coping strategies. I integrate evidence-based approaches with culturally responsive care to help clients process traumatic experiences, strengthen resilience, and cultivate a sense of empowerment and self-worth. The goal of this work is to create a safe, affirming space where clients can process racial trauma, heal from its effects, and build greater emotional well-being, self-advocacy, and connection to their community and sense of identity.
I offer Christian Counseling for clients who wish to incorporate their faith into the therapeutic process. Drawing on biblical principles alongside clinical tools, I help clients explore spiritual questions, overcome personal struggles, and strengthen their relationship with God. Prayer, Scripture, and Christian values are integrated as desired by the client, providing both spiritual and psychological support. This approach can be especially meaningful for those wrestling with guilt, forgiveness, identity, or life purpose within a faith context.