With over 20 years of experience in Human/Social Services, Carisa Gerald has provided individual and family counseling services for children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings. She has been trained in individual, group, couples, and family therapies, but her primary counseling experience has been with children/youth, women, and families. Her special interests include adjustment issues, anxiety, depression, grief, stress/anger management, relationship concerns, self-esteem problems, life transitions, healthy coping skills, and communication skills.

It is her goal to provide a safe, nurturing environment to facilitate your/your child’s personal growth in self-awareness and self-acceptance. She also believes that each person and each person’s situation is unique, which is why she utilizes an integrated approach to therapy. By using concepts from different models, such as cognitive-behavioral, solutions-focused, and person-centered she customizes her approach for each client’s individual needs. She approaches therapy as a collaborative process that requires work. For this reason, she sometimes provides out-of-session assignments to reinforce growth. Therapy can lead to benefits, such as lower levels of distress, better relationships, solutions to problems, and overall improved well-being. She sees her role as a facilitator for each person’s personal growth and well-being on this journey.

She received her Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University in 2002 and her BS in Psychology from Francis Marion University in 2000.  (License #7838)