Carissa Ferdinand

Hi! My name is Carissa, and I’m an experienced psychotherapist who specializes in helping individuals develop deeper understandings of themselves. I work with many women in their 20s and 30s who are navigating various challenges and transitions in life. I particularly enjoy working with women from Asian, Asian American, or immigrant families, as well as individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.

I also specialize in trauma work and attachment. Some of the individuals I work with have experienced trauma from a specific event, while others experience complex trauma stemming from years of complicated relationships with parents/caretakers. As a result, these individuals may struggle with anxiety, depression, low self-confidence, or other difficulties. Through treatment, my goal is to help you develop a sense of control and stability in your everyday life, as well as a better understanding of who you are and why you operate in the ways you do. Along the way, we’ll figure out how to find closure on past experiences or recurring questions, so you can move forward feeling a little lighter.

I primarily use a psychodynamic approach in therapy, which means we'll explore your inner thoughts and feelings to understand how they affect your behaviors and relationships. I also integrate an intersectional approach to understand how your experiences and identities have shaped you. Through the therapeutic relationship we create, we’ll start to understand how you might navigate social situations out in the world, while also providing you with a safe and stable relationship to return to. Along the way, I may offer DBT skills to help you improve your ability to accept and regulate your emotions. I find that this integrative approach helps individuals develop insight about themselves, while providing them with long-term solutions and relief.

I spend the first several sessions getting to know you and what brings you to therapy. The first session tends to involve a lot of questions to gather information, and also a lot of validation. My goal is always to partner with you to build a safe space where you can share and process your experiences. By the end of our first meeting, my hope is that you'll walk away feeling more settled than when you came in. Over time, we'll draw from your natural abilities to find new ways of approaching problems and to boost your confidence in tackling challenges, so that life becomes a little easier to navigate.