Hi there, I'm Carissa.
If we end up working together, there are a few things you should know.
My job isn’t to tell you what to do or even who you are. It’s to help you remember.
Because healing isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about coming back home to yourself.
That’s the work I love. And it’s an absolute privilege to do it every single day.
what it's like to work with me
Therapy with me is collaborative and, dare I say... fun?
I’ll ask questions, I’ll challenge you, and I’ll celebrate your wins. I’ll probably interrupt when you say things like “I have to...” or “I can’t...” because words matter.
We’ll laugh. Sometimes we’ll cry. Sometimes we’ll do both in the same session.
You’ll probably hear me say things like:
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“What part of you is showing up right now?”
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“Both things can coexist.”
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“What do you want to take away from today to be intentional about?”
And my personal favorite:
“No one is going to look out for you more than you.”
Mostly, though, I tailor therapy to you.
Because you’re a human, not a treatment manual.
my story (the short version)
I became a therapist because I know what it’s like to need one.
I’ve sat on the other side of the couch. I’ve done the work (and still am) of healing abandonment, family wounds, anxiety, and a nervous system that spent far too long believing survival was the same thing as living.
That work changed my life and influenced the type of therapist I wanted to become.
I wanted to be the therapist I wish I had when I was in the trenches. The one who wasn’t afraid of hard conversations. Who could sit with grief, trauma, panic attacks, motherhood, identity, shame, and all the messy parts of being human without trying to rush someone toward “feeling better.”
Most importantly, I genuinely love people. Not the polished, “I’ve got it all together” version.
The real version. The one that’s messy, hopeful, scared, resilient, healing, and wonderfully human.
Because that’s where real therapy happens.
outside the office
HERE'S THE VERSION OF ME THAT DOESN'T WRITE PROGRESS NOTES.
I’m married to a detective and former military member, I’m a mom to two incredible little boys, and homeschooling has become one of my favorite adventures.
My husband and I have also built a family that goes far beyond blood, so life around here is full, loud, occasionally chaotic, and usually caffeinated.
And I genuinely love it that way.
I'm also a Christian, and my faith is a deeply meaningful part of who I am. It shapes the way I see people, relationships, hope, grace, and the messy work of becoming who we're meant to be. I won't hide that part of myself, but I also won't ask you to share my beliefs to feel welcome, understood, or respected here.
Outside the therapy room, real life is very much allowed. Our house is rarely quiet, someone always needs a snack, and there's usually a little chaos happening somewhere. I'm not easily fazed by any of it.
I'm a big believer that life doesn't have to look perfectly put together to be really good. Mine is usually a little chaotic, occasionally ridiculous, and held together by a whole lot of grace - and I wouldn't have it any other way.
the professional stuff
specialized
training
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Trauma-informed care
Suicide prevention
licenses
Licensed Social Worker in:
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Missouri
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Kansas
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Kentucky
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Washington
experiences
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Group practice passionately supporting veterans, first responders, and adults navigating anxiety and trauma.
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Principal Investigator on published research exploring trauma-informed care within the NICU.
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Pediatric Emergency Department & NICU Social Work supporting premature infants & their families.
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Hospice work helping family experiencing grief and loss.
education
Master of Social Work - University of Missouri-Kansas City
Bachelor of Social Work - University of Central Missouri
