Licensed to practice in California. Specializes in Addiction / Substance Use, Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
(he/him)
New to Grow
I’m Craig Bissell, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing virtual therapy for adults and couples throughout California. After years working in intensive behavioral health and substance use treatment, I now specialize in helping people work through trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, relationship challenges, and patterns that keep them feeling stuck. My approach is direct, collaborative, and integrative, using EMDR, ACT, and insight-oriented therapy to help people understand what is driving those patterns and make meaningful, lasting changes.
The first session is really about getting to know each other and beginning to understand what brought you to therapy. We will talk about what has been going on, what you would like to change, and what you hope to get out of the process. You do not need to come in knowing exactly what to say or where to start. My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling heard, with a clearer sense of what we can work on together and what the next steps might look like.
I bring a direct, grounded, and collaborative approach to therapy. I work to understand not just what someone is struggling with, but the patterns, experiences, and beliefs underneath it. My background in mental health and substance use treatment has taught me how to sit with difficult things without judgment while also knowing when to challenge someone in a thoughtful and supportive way. I draw from EMDR, ACT, trauma-informed care, and insight-oriented therapy, but I tailor the work to the person rather than forcing everyone into the same model.
I work with adults from a wide range of backgrounds and with many different concerns. My ideal client is not someone who has everything figured out, but someone who is willing to be honest, curious, and engaged in the process. I can meet people wherever they are, whether they are feeling motivated for change or simply trying to understand what is happening in their life. From there, we work together at a pace that feels realistic and useful.
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients change the way they relate to difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences rather than spending all of their energy trying to eliminate or control them. We work on recognizing unhelpful patterns, creating more distance from thoughts, increasing emotional flexibility, and identifying the values that matter most to you. From there, the focus is on taking meaningful action that moves you toward the kind of life you want, even when discomfort is still present.
I use EMDR to help clients process distressing experiences that continue to affect how they feel, think, or respond in the present. Rather than focusing only on talking through the past, EMDR helps the brain reprocess memories and reduce the emotional intensity connected to them. I use it collaboratively and at a pace that feels manageable, with attention to safety, stabilization, and helping clients feel more in control of their responses.
I use an integrative approach because no single treatment model works for every person or every problem. I draw from approaches such as ACT, EMDR, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and insight-oriented therapy depending on what the client needs and where they are in the process. The goal is to create a flexible, individualized approach that is grounded in evidence while still feeling practical, human, and relevant to the client’s life.
I use Motivational Interviewing to help clients explore ambivalence, clarify what they want, and strengthen their own reasons for making change. Rather than telling clients what they should do, I focus on curiosity, collaboration, and helping them identify the gap between where they are and where they want to be. This approach is especially useful when someone feels stuck, uncertain, or not fully ready for change.
I use trauma-informed care by approaching symptoms and behaviors with an understanding that they often developed as ways of coping with difficult or overwhelming experiences. I focus on creating a sense of safety, collaboration, choice, and trust while being mindful of each client’s pace and readiness. The goal is to help clients better understand their responses, build a greater sense of control, and work through difficult experiences without feeling pushed or overwhelmed.