Marisa Esparza, LPC
Therapist focused on midlife transitions
Continue with Marisa
Opens BetterHelp in a new tab, where you can review online therapy options.
- Practical coping strategies
- LGBTQIA advocacy
- Group and individual work
About Marisa
Marisa Esparza is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas who focuses on helping people facing midlife stresses and other life changes. She has ten years of experience and aims to make therapy approachable and practical for people juggling work, family, and identity questions.
She earned a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Bachelor of Education from the same university. Across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings she has supported people in crisis, led groups, and coordinated care with medical staff.
Her background includes program management roles in behavioral health where she worked with children, adolescents, adults, military populations, and seniors. In those roles she provided assessments, risk evaluations, group facilitation, and crisis deescalation when needed. Earlier work on an Assertive Community Treatment team emphasized community-based skills training and resource coordination.
In therapy she draws on practical, evidence-informed approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy. She uses these methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, mood concerns, ADHD, addiction-related issues, trauma, and relationship or family stresses.
She is an LGBTQIA advocate with experience supporting youth exploring identity and assisting families to better communicate. People seeking help are invited to discuss their goals and find an approach that fits their daily life and responsibilities.
She earned a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Bachelor of Education from the same university. Across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings she has supported people in crisis, led groups, and coordinated care with medical staff.
Her background includes program management roles in behavioral health where she worked with children, adolescents, adults, military populations, and seniors. In those roles she provided assessments, risk evaluations, group facilitation, and crisis deescalation when needed. Earlier work on an Assertive Community Treatment team emphasized community-based skills training and resource coordination.
In therapy she draws on practical, evidence-informed approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy. She uses these methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, mood concerns, ADHD, addiction-related issues, trauma, and relationship or family stresses.
She is an LGBTQIA advocate with experience supporting youth exploring identity and assisting families to better communicate. People seeking help are invited to discuss their goals and find an approach that fits their daily life and responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
10+ years
Credentials
Texas
Languages
English
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, clarify what matters to them, and take small steps toward those values. It can be useful for stress, life transitions, and feeling stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting thought patterns and changing behaviors to reduce anxiety and low mood; it often includes practical exercises to try between sessions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current ways of relating and can help with intimacy concerns, trust, and connection issues.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, remove travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets people try different styles of work from a familiar setting while the therapist and client collaborate on practical tools and homework that carry into daily routines.
Frequently asked questions
What issues does Marisa commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, parenting strain, anger, depression, ADHD, addictions, trauma, identity questions, and coping with life changes among other concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a practical, collaborative approach that combines acceptance-based work, cognitive-behavioral tools, and emotion-focused skills to help people manage symptoms and meet goals.
What kind of experience does she bring?
She has ten years of experience working in inpatient, outpatient, and community settings, including program management and crisis response roles.
Where is she licensed and located?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and practices with that credential in mind.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she accept international clients?
She does accept international clients.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.