- Trauma and codependency
- Goal focused
- LGBTQ ally
About Marisela
Marisela Cuellar-VanHouten is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan who helps people facing trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar concerns, and codependency. She also supports people coping with parenting stress, grief, sleep problems, anger, and shifts in career or life circumstances. She describes herself as an LGBTQ ally and pays attention to how culture shapes a person's experience.
Her approach is simple and practical. She listens with respect and adjusts conversations to match each person's needs. Sessions focus on clear goals, coping tools, and steps that can be tried between visits. She emphasizes building confidence and motivation over time.
Marisela uses a mix of methods that include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, client-centered listening, dialectical behavior strategies, and mindfulness. These tools are used to reduce overwhelming emotions, break unhelpful patterns, and improve daily functioning. She works collaboratively to choose which methods fit best for the situation.
With a decade of direct therapy experience and a longer professional background, she brings steady support without judgement. People often come for help with relationship patterns, caregiving strain, chronic illness and pain, or challenges tied to abandonment and control issues. She offers practical coaching alongside therapy when that is helpful.
To begin, she asks clients to set clear, achievable goals and to try brief steps between sessions. The focus is on small, realistic changes that add up to better coping and more satisfying days.
How therapeutic approaches shape online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and choosing actions that match personal values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and codependency by clarifying what matters and guiding small, values-based steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses practical exercises to change patterns. It is useful for mood, anxiety, sleep, and coping with life changes. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus; it pairs well with ACT or CBT for emotion regulation.Finding the right method is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try different strategies, and adjust the approach when something is not working. The emphasis is on what helps the person in day-to-day life rather than fitting into a single labeled method.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people use video practice for skills work or choose a quieter, lower-bandwidth option on busier days. Ask about the formats offered when you complete the matching questionnaire so sessions match your needs and routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She helps people with trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, bipolar concerns, codependency, parenting stress, grief, sleep issues, anger, self-esteem, career strain, and caregiving fatigue.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is practical and respectful. She listens, sets clear goals, and works with clients to try concrete steps between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 10 years providing individual therapy and a longer professional work history in related roles.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker, and is located in Michigan.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's 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.