Hello! My name is Clarissa, and I am currently a counselor-in-training earning my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As both a developing clinician and a fellow human, I value humility, authenticity, adventure, optimism, compassion, and awareness. I believe counseling is most effective when individuals feel safe, supported, and genuinely understood.

I place strong importance on building a collaborative and trusting therapeutic relationship. I utilize Existentialism, Person-Centered, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy when working with clients to support various treatment needs. I am especially drawn to supporting individuals as they explore their identity and how it connects to their sense of meaning and purpose in life.

Outside of the counseling space, I prioritize cultivating balance and self-care, allowing me to stay connected to myself when life inevitably gets messy. I create this balance by sharing meaningful moments with loved ones, spending time outdoors hiking or appreciating nature, enjoying good food, going to the gym, lighting candles, and caring for my two sweet cats. As a partner, sister, daughter, granddaughter, friend, and student, these moments help me stay present, connected, and grounded.

The strategies I use to stay grounded have been learned and refined as I have grown and changed throughout my life. As a child, I was deeply curious and fascinated by the world around me. Early on, I became aware of social expectations and the unspoken rules that often influence acceptance and belonging. As I navigated these dynamics, I also developed an awareness of my own individuality and how it existed alongside those expectations.

These experiences shaped my ability to see the world from multiple perspectives—my own, those of others, and those influenced by broader systems. As my understanding deepened, so did my empathy for others. While there are countless life paths and many different blueprints for how those paths can unfold, one truth remains constant, regardless of the paths we take; We all share the experience of being human.

My rate is $65 for ongoing sessions (50 minutes), $80 for the initial evaluation, and $80 families and couples (60 minutes).

I accept private pay.