Hi, I’m Carissa and I enjoy working with children, adolescents, adults and their families. I am passionate about helping others heal through a holistic mind, body, and spirit approach. I  integrate traditional therapeutic techniques with creative expression, mindfulness, and strengths-based practices to support healing in a meaningful and individualized way. I strive at building authentic therapeutic relationships grounded in empathy, compassion, and empowerment while honoring individual expression through art, play, sandtray, and talk therapy. One of the most passionate parts of my work is incorporating art therapy into the healing process. I believe different forms of  therapy can become a powerful tool at all ages to communicate emotions and experiences that words alone cannot fully express. 

I am going through the process of Animal Assisted Therapy and my rabbit, Gizmoe, is a co-therapist in training.  I lead the Adult Women’s social group and The LEGO social skills club here at The Kids Therapy Center.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with family and friends, doing arts and crafts, hiking, and playing volleyball.

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A Quick Glance at My Background

Education: 

• M.S. in School Counseling and Clinical Mental health Counseling (University of Mary) 

• B.S. in Art Education (Dickinson State University)

 

Specialized Trainings: 

• Certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

• Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Level 1 & undergoing Level 2

• Brainspotting:

  • Phase 1

  • Phase 2

  • Children & Adolescents

  • Relationships & Couples

• Numerous Art Therapy workshops

• Everyday Parenting and Family Check-up

• Experiential Play Therapy: Trained by Developer Dr Byron Norton

• Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) by developer Sue Bratton

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Check out a playlist of videos featuring Carissa, here.