Carissa Ferdinand

I’m an experienced psychotherapist who specializes in trauma work with adults in their 20s and 30s, with a focus on women from Asian or immigrant communities. Oftentimes, the individuals I work with have experienced complex trauma stemming from years of complicated relationships with parents/caretakers, partners, or peers. As a result, many of the individuals I treat experience anxiety, depression, low self-worth, or a number of other difficulties. I take an intersectional and trauma-informed approach to treatment, meaning that I aim to understand how your experiences and identities have shaped you, while helping you develop a sense of control and stability in your everyday life.

I'm licensed to see individuals in Florida, Illinois, and Michigan. All appointments are via telehealth.

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. Through the therapeutic relationship we create, we’ll start to understand how you might navigate social situations out in the real 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 approach helps individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves as well as a healthier approach to life, ultimately resulting in long-term 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 feels a little easier to navigate.