- Direct and down-to-earth
- Values-focused strategies
- Practical skill building
About Karissa
Karissa Thomas is a licensed social worker who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy challenges, and concerns related to adoption and foster care. She brings seven years of clinical experience and practices from Michigan. Her style is direct, compassionate, and down-to-earth, so conversations are honest and practical rather than vague or clinical.
Karissa uses simple, straightforward language to help people clarify what matters to them. She listens without judgment and asks curious questions that point toward real change. Sessions often include goal-setting, skill practice, and check-ins that make progress obvious over time.
Her work draws on several approaches that focus on thoughts, feelings, and relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps spot unhelpful thinking and change it. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy supports values-based choices. Attachment-Based and Client-Centered ideas guide how she explores connection and personal history.
Karissa also uses strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy for managing intense emotions and building coping skills. She mixes tools to fit each person’s situation rather than using a single method every time.
Clients can expect warmth, clarity, and occasional gentle humor during sessions. Karissa frames the client as the expert in their life and offers practical steps they can try between meetings. This collaborative stance aims to make therapy useful in day-to-day life.
How these approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, then choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, life transitions, and when someone wants clearer goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new ways of thinking and behaving, which can ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and supports building healthier connection and trust in close relationships.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to try methods that fit their goals and comfort level. Expect some experimentation at first so the plan matches what feels most helpful.
Confirm the session formats available before booking so you know how meetings are arranged. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by avoiding travel time or allowing brief check-ins between commitments. It can also let people join from different locations and use visual or audio options based on what works best for them. Talk with the therapist about preferences and practical needs to set up sessions that fit everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Karissa help with?
She supports people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, addiction, parenting stress, eating concerns, and matters related to adoption and foster care.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is nonjudgmental, practical, and straightforward. Sessions blend listening with clear steps and skill practice to make progress feel tangible.
What is her clinical background?
Karissa has seven years of experience working as a clinician and draws on several evidence-based approaches to tailor treatment to each person.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an MI LMSW, which is a Michigan Licensed Master Social Worker credential, and is based in Michigan.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are available for meetings.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.