- Direct and curious
- Values-driven work
- Focus on relationships
About Karissa
Karissa Thomas is a licensed clinical social worker (LMSW) practicing from Michigan. She aims to make people feel heard and understood, and she helps them work through stress, loss, relationship pain, codependency, anxiety, and other life challenges. Karissa uses a straightforward, practical style with a kind and curious attitude. She values honesty and vulnerability in sessions and may use lightness and humor when it fits the moment.
Karissa approaches therapy as a collaborative process. She treats each person as the expert on their own life and focuses on what matters most to them. Her style is nonjudgmental and open, and she asks questions with genuine curiosity to better understand each person's needs.
Her work draws from several evidence-informed approaches. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to identify patterns and test new behaviors. She also uses acceptance and commitment ideas to help people clarify values and make room for hard feelings while moving toward meaningful goals.
Karissa pays attention to attachment patterns and relationship dynamics when those issues come up. She aims to help people build clearer boundaries, stronger communication, and greater self-understanding. Practical skills, checking progress together, and honest feedback are regular parts of her sessions.
With seven years of experience, Karissa supports people facing trauma, grief, mood concerns, addiction-related stress, parenting strains, career crossroads, and identity questions. Sessions are offered in English, and international clients may be accepted. To begin, visitors use the Start Therapy button to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.
How Karissa’s Approaches Work Online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings while choosing actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, low mood, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning. It can help with worry, sleep problems, and mood patterns. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns shape current connections and helps people change interaction patterns that cause pain.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to your priorities and suggest which methods to try first. This is a collaborative process - goals and methods are adjusted based on what actually helps you over time.
The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm the available session types before booking. Online work can make regular check-ins easier to fit into a busy week, allow shorter phone or video check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so sessions can happen during lunch breaks or between errands. Licensed professionals can use these methods effectively to teach coping skills, practice new communication, and track progress between sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Karissa help address?
Karissa supports people with anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, codependency, addictions, parenting stress, eating concerns, bipolar mood issues, and other life changes.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
She brings a practical, straightforward, and compassionate style. Her work combines client-centered listening with CBT and acceptance-based strategies and focuses on clear goals and useful skills.
How much experience does she have?
She has seven years of clinical experience working with a range of concerns, and she aims to use that experience to help people clarify goals and build coping skills.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker, and she practices from Michigan.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English, and she indicates that international clients are accepted.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking so you know what is offered.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with Karissa?
To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.