Marisa Esparza, LPC

Marisa Esparza is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas who helps people facing stress, anxiety, parenting challenges, anger, depression, and identity concerns. She often supports those managing ADHD, addictions, trauma, relationship and family issues, and life changes. Marisa focuses on clear, practical steps and steady support rather than jargon. She is a proponent of helping young people and adults find calmer ways to cope and communicate.

Marisa earned a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2015 and a Bachelor of Education from the same university in 2011. Over the past decade she has worked in inpatient units, outpatient programs, and community teams. These roles included program management in child, adolescent, adult, and military outpatient groups and hands-on crisis work on inpatient units.

Her background includes running daily groups, leading family sessions, and performing psychological and risk assessments in collaboration with medical staff. She has also provided psychiatric rehabilitative skills in community settings and coordinated services to reduce unnecessary hospital stays. That mix of hospital and community work shaped her practical approach to treatment.

In sessions she draws on several therapy methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Attachment-Based Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy. She aims to help people build coping skills, improve communication, and manage intense emotions.

Marisa is an LGBTQIA advocate who says she is passionate about supporting adolescents, young adults, and their families as they navigate identity and relationship concerns. She accepts clients from Texas and international locations and conducts therapy in English.

How her approaches shape online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and it teaches actions that align with personal values. This approach can help when anxiety, depression, or life changes make it hard to move forward. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it often helps with anxiety, depression, sleep, and mood regulation. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and strengthening interpersonal effectiveness, which can be useful when anger, relationship issues, or emotional instability are present.

Finding the best fit is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and may blend methods over time. Clients and the therapist decide together what feels most helpful and adjust the approach as needs change.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available session types before booking. Many people find that remote sessions make it easier to fit appointments into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Online work can still include skills practice, guided exercises, and regular check-ins to track progress, with the therapist helping tailor session length and focus to what works in the client’s everyday routine.