Last edited 02/14/2024

Carissa Sietsema LCSW

VerifiedOffers Online Therapy
Acepting new clientsAccepts Insurance
Headshot of Carissa Sietsema Licensed Clinical Social Worker

General Office Hours

In Eastern Time

Mondayfrom 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Tuesdayfrom 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Wednesdayfrom 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Thursdayfrom 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Fridayfrom 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Saturdayfrom 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Sundayfrom 09:00 AM to 07:00 PM

Learn more about my:

What does a first session with you look like?

During our sessions together we will work towards achieving your goals. This process will allow you to decompress from life’s daily struggles while learning skills to find your peace and happiness. Together in session, we will use a variety of tools and techniques that go beyond just identifying the symptoms and we will get to the root of the problem. We will explore the connection between emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. The techniques learned will help you cope with feelings of distress and learn to be in the present. This may include recognizing when we are having unhelpful thoughts and learning to challenge and reframe them. Practicing acceptance and mindfulness techniques is another technique that may be used as it can improve our ability to be focused on the present, be nonjudgmental, and reduce how often we future trip. Through regular practice you will work to reteach your brain and embrace new ways to go about life.

What is your style/approach to therapy?

In general. I use a combination of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral therapy. These modalities assist us with better understanding the root of our symptoms and how one’s thoughts, emotions and behaviors are connected. We will improve your ability to cope with distressing emotions, understand what our emotions are telling us, reframe unhelpful thoughts, and improve our relationship with ourselves and others. In addition to these modalities I also use narrative therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), and Prolonged exposure which are useful in treating individuals struggling with past trauma and OCD. Further descriptions of these modalities are below. For OCD: When treating OCD we will use both exposure and response prevention (ERP) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). We will identify the core fears surrounding your thoughts. These core fears are what drive us to perform compulsive behaviors and can hold us hostage. With OCD, there is no negotiating with it, it will try to explain away any rationale we give it. Therefore, the most widely used treatment for OCD is exposure techniques. These will be done at your comfort level and will be individualized to your fears and struggles. As we face exposures together, this will create habituation, meaning the feelings of distress will lessen over time. We must also work on the response prevention part, and this is where ACT comes in. With ACT we recognize the thoughts we are having, what they are telling us to do, and learn to sit with them. By sitting with our thoughts and feelings instead of acting on them this allows the exposure activities to work better and decreases the anxiety and depression we feel from OCD. For trauma therapy: In session, we will work to better understand your trauma and stressful events. You will learn that like your favorite characters you are not your origin story, it is merely what got your story started. We will learn a variety of tools to help you reduce feelings of distress, increase your self-compassion, and challenge unhelpful thoughts. We will work on facing reminders of your trauma, to reteach your brain that not everything is dangerous. Both narrative therapy and prolonged exposure are useful tools we will use to help you face reminders of past trauma that continue to cause you distress. By retelling your story or gradually exposing yourself to traumatic reminders, we will practice habituation. This is like when you get into a cold pool. At first your body feels in pain and in shock, however the longer you stay in the water your body adjusts to it so that you are no longer in distress and instead able to enjoy swimming. Our minds work in a similar manner, the more we sit with feeling of distress and reminders of past trauma, we feel better and eventually we will no longer react as intensely when we encounter a reminder again. All therapy techniques are tailored to your comfort level and level of willingness. If you do not feel ready to discuss or face something, that is ok, we can start where you feel comfortable at.

Specialties

Depression

Anxiety

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In-Network Insurance

Aetna

All Savers Insurance

AvMed

Fees

First Session$150
Individual Therapy$150

Types of Therapy

Individual Therapy

Clientele

Adults (25-65)

Seniors (65+)

Licensure

  • Virginia, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 904015295

Education

Marshall University

Online Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions About Carissa Sietsema, LCSW

It’s not uncommon to have questions before starting therapy. Carissa Sietsema, LCSW, has answered a few of the questions they receive most often from new clients.

Is Carissa Sietsema accepting new clients?

Yes, Carissa Sietsema is accepting new clients for online therapy in Virginia.

Does Carissa Sietsema accept insurance?

Yes, Carissa Sietsema accepts insurance, including Aetna, All Savers Insurance and AvMed.

What types of therapy does Carissa Sietsema offer?

Carissa Sietsema offers therapy for individuals.

Does Carissa Sietsema offer in-person appointments?

No, but people in Virginia can book Carissa Sietsema for virtual appointments (teletherapy).

Does Carissa Sietsema offer online therapy?

Yes, Carissa Sietsema offers online therapy via video sessions and phone sessions to people in Virginia.

How quickly can I see Carissa Sietsema?

Carissa Sietsema typically can speak with new clients within 48 hours. You can see their current general office hours and request an appointment on their profile page.

What languages does Carissa Sietsema speak?

Carissa Sietsema conducts therapy sessions in English.

Can I book an appointment with Carissa Sietsema online?

Yes, you can easily book an appointment with Carissa Sietsema online using Choosing Therapy’s directory.