CARISSA KAUFMAN

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Online Video Sessions Only

There is no greater joy in my work than helping individuals, couples, and families heal. I have seen this happen in many different ways and I enjoy the courage, compassion, and creativity that therapy requires. If you’re experiencing internal turmoil or disconnection and conflict with loved ones, you have come to the right place. It’s an honor for me to get to know people and their important relationships and to support people in restoring mutual respect, rebuilding trust in one another, and experiencing the joy of shared love. Couples often come to me in painful moments. After an affair, after a death, after a financial crisis, etc. I understand I may not be meeting you and your partner on one of the best days of your relationship. You’re welcome and wanted in therapy, exactly as who you’re and how you show up in the world right now. Your bond is welcome and wanted in therapy, exactly as it currently prevails without the pressure of pretense. We’ll create space for addressing the hurt and we’ll also work together toward relief. I want to be clear that I strive to be an ally and I really enjoy working with same-sex couples. You may feel anxious while looking for a therapist to work with and that’s such an understandable feeling. You may also feel vulnerable, reaching out for support. Please know that you’re not alone. Most people feel these feelings too. The good news is that over the years I have heard from many people the positive impacts that working with a therapist has on self-awareness, relationships, and overall quality of life. So, the search is worth it. You deserve to feel seen and heard. You also deserve to know some things about me in order to make a decision about whether or not you think we’ll connect well with one another. I come from a small nuclear family and a large extended family. I’m a cisgender woman with a Roman Catholic Mexican mother and a New England Jewish father. I’m also the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. Therefore, I have grown up with required mental and emotional flexibility. I’m uniquely able to hold space for multiple truths, perspectives, ways of knowing, ways of feeling, and ways of being in the world. My clinical experience is broad with expertise in these areas. I enjoy working with BIPOC people. Especially, around biracial/multiracial identity development, self-esteem, and belonging. I understand and have deep compassion for what it’s like to experience microaggressions, race based trauma, and the extra mental and emotional energy it takes to live in a white society when you’re not white. I also enjoy working with interracial couples, teens (14-19) and families, and adults struggling with issues related to adjustment, life transitions, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other concerns. When I’m not in a therapy session, I enjoy dancing, swimming, and walking. I also enjoy cooking with my family, supporting local restaurants, and eating tasty and delicious food. I love to travel and explore new places (and new foods). I’m also committed to being a lifelong learner. “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats I utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy and Experiential Therapy to help individuals, couples, and families connect with themselves and others. Sometimes we get stuck in negative communication cycles and we’re looking for new and different ways to relate well with one another. Sometimes we have forgotten tried and true ways to relate well with one another and we need a friendly reminder. These things happen over the life course and seeking support in bettering yourself and your relationships is a sign of mental health and wellness. I have no doubt that it would be my privilege and pleasure to support you and your loved ones. I’m so looking forward to collaborating with you to raise your voice, build on your insights, enjoy strong, meaningful, and purpose-filled relationships, and find greater peace and solace in life’s chaos.