Carisa Marinucci LMFT

Life is a wonderful, and sometimes very hurtful teacher. Although I love being in the therapist's chair, I have also been on the couch as a client where I have been challenged, cried, developed insights, and made meaningful change so that I can FEEL better about where my life is going without my past getting in the way. Through therapy, I have been able to adjust my perspective on past life experiences and heal from trauma so they don't hold my present hostage and create barriers in my ability to connect with others. I have a lot of compassion, empathy, and respect for those that sit on the client's couch, it's not an easy journey, but it's worth it in the end.

I take an integrative approach with treatment; each person is different and therefore "one size does not fit all." I use the following modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS or Parts Work), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). I also utilize Eye Movement Desentization Reprocessing (EMDR) which is helpful for a variety of issues that have developed from traumatic events.

Progress is observed through small changes made in communication, responses to struggle or stressors, an ability to cope with overwhelming events, an increase in engaging in hobbies, passions, and other enjoyable activities, and improvements in relationships with others. Sometimes this can be difficult to gauge for ourselves because a person can be stuck in a pattern/cycle for so long - this is also how a therapist can be helpful in highlighting those changes and progress throughout the process. You aren't going to live life without being presented with challenges and stressors, however therapy can help with not allowing these challenges and stressors to completely derail progress.

• Nevada, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, 4439

My work experience includes seeing clients (of various backgrounds and intersectionality) in a private practice setting as well as over 2 years of working with adolescents and their families in a residential treatment center providing therapeutic services related to mood disorders, ADHD, trauma (emotional, physical, and sexual), behavioral challenges, self-harm, suicidality, and problematic family dynamics to include generational trauma. Although I have experience and passion in working with each of these challenges in my private practice, working in a treatment center where clients engage in intensive therapy has accelerated my professional development as a clinician to assist managing what people can feel are overwhelmingly intense challenges. I have since moved forward in taking what I've learned and expanded into private practice. To learn a little bit more about me and my practice, please visit my website at www.choicepointcenter.com