Marisa Esparza, LPC
Support for teens, young adults, and families in transition
- Teen and young adult care
- Family communication support
- LGBTQIA affirming advocacy
About Marisa Esparza
Marisa Esparza is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas with 10 years of experience supporting people across a wide range of life stages and settings. She earned a Master of Education in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at El Paso in December 2015, following a Bachelor of Education from the same university in May 2011. Her background includes work in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based care, giving her a practical understanding of the barriers that can make it difficult to access and stay engaged in mental health treatment.
In her most recent role at El Paso Behavioral Health Systems, Marisa served as a program manager across multiple levels of care, including a children and adolescents inpatient unit, an adult and military outpatient group, and an adolescent outpatient group. In these settings, she collaborated with patients, medical staff, and families to help stabilize high-risk children and adults. Her work included providing psychological and risk assessments to clarify needs, facilitating daily groups and family sessions, responding to emergencies on the unit, and using rapport-building and verbal de-escalation skills during crises while coordinating with treatment teams to support safety in the community.
Earlier in her career, Marisa worked as a qualified mental health professional on an Assertive Community Treatment team, providing psychiatric rehabilitative skills training and crisis assessment and management in clients’ homes and in the community. She also completed ongoing assessment and preliminary diagnostic impressions related to psychiatric and co-occurring concerns, while coordinating community resources connected to medical, social, educational, and financial needs to promote stability and reduce unnecessary hospitalization.
Marisa’s training includes extensive experience with children, adolescents, adults, military members, and seniors, and her internship work included group therapy, assessments, risk assessments, and participation in family and treatment team sessions. She is especially passionate about working with adolescents, young adults, and their families, with attention to bridging gaps in communication and worldviews. Marisa is an LGBTQIA advocate who values empowering youth exploring identity and helping families learn how to offer support.
In her most recent role at El Paso Behavioral Health Systems, Marisa served as a program manager across multiple levels of care, including a children and adolescents inpatient unit, an adult and military outpatient group, and an adolescent outpatient group. In these settings, she collaborated with patients, medical staff, and families to help stabilize high-risk children and adults. Her work included providing psychological and risk assessments to clarify needs, facilitating daily groups and family sessions, responding to emergencies on the unit, and using rapport-building and verbal de-escalation skills during crises while coordinating with treatment teams to support safety in the community.
Earlier in her career, Marisa worked as a qualified mental health professional on an Assertive Community Treatment team, providing psychiatric rehabilitative skills training and crisis assessment and management in clients’ homes and in the community. She also completed ongoing assessment and preliminary diagnostic impressions related to psychiatric and co-occurring concerns, while coordinating community resources connected to medical, social, educational, and financial needs to promote stability and reduce unnecessary hospitalization.
Marisa’s training includes extensive experience with children, adolescents, adults, military members, and seniors, and her internship work included group therapy, assessments, risk assessments, and participation in family and treatment team sessions. She is especially passionate about working with adolescents, young adults, and their families, with attention to bridging gaps in communication and worldviews. Marisa is an LGBTQIA advocate who values empowering youth exploring identity and helping families learn how to offer support.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
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 Approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Psychodynamic Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Marisa Esparza have?
Marisa Esparza has 10 years of experience providing counseling and mental health support across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings.
Is Marisa Esparza a licensed therapist?
Yes. Marisa Esparza is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas. Her license is TX LPC 81589.
In which languages does Marisa Esparza provide therapy?
Marisa Esparza provides therapy in English.
Where is Marisa Esparza located?
Marisa Esparza is located in Texas.
How can I work with Marisa Esparza as my therapist?
You can work with Marisa Esparza through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, depending on what works best for your needs and scheduling.
Does Marisa Esparza work with international clients?
Yes. Marisa Esparza works with international clients.
How much does therapy with Marisa Esparza cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the Start Therapy button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the Start Therapy button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Evidence-based approaches, made accessible online
Marisa Esparza draws from practical, skills-focused therapies that can translate well to online sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients notice patterns in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and practice new responses, which can be useful for concerns like stress, anxiety, depression, and everyday coping. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication, supporting people who feel overwhelmed by intense emotions or conflict. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early and current relationships shape trust, boundaries, and connection, which can be especially relevant for family stress, relationship concerns, and identity development.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Marisa collaborates with clients to clarify goals, understand what has and has not helped in the past, and choose strategies that fit the client’s preferences, pace, and current challenges. As needs change over time, the focus can shift to match what feels most helpful in the moment.
Online therapy also makes support easier to fit into real life. Sessions can take place through video calls or phone sessions, and clients can also use live chat or text-based messaging for added flexibility. This range of options can help people stay engaged in therapy even with busy schedules, changing routines, or limited access to in-person services.