Marisa Esparza, LPC
Support for youth, families, and life transitions
- Adolescent and young adult care
- Family communication support
- LGBTQIA advocacy focused
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 needs and life stages. 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 work across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings has shaped a practical understanding of the obstacles that can make it difficult to access and stay engaged in mental health care.
In her most recent role at El Paso Behavioral Health Systems, Marisa served as a program manager for multiple services, including children and adolescents inpatient care, adult and military outpatient groups, and adolescent outpatient groups. In these positions, she collaborated closely with patients, families, and medical staff to help stabilize high-risk children and adults. Her responsibilities included conducting psychological and risk assessments, communicating clinical needs to treatment teams, facilitating daily groups and family sessions, responding to crises on the unit, and using verbal de-escalation to help individuals regain stability during acute moments. She also coordinated with medical staff and treatment teams to support safety planning 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 community settings. That role included ongoing assessment, preliminary diagnosis of Axis I psychiatric and co-occurring disorders, and coordinating community resources to address medical, social, educational, and financial needs, with the goal of improving quality of life and reducing unnecessary inpatient hospitalization.
During her internship at El Paso Behavioral Health, Marisa built foundational skills working with children, adolescents, adults, military populations, and seniors. Her training included crisis counseling and chemical dependency topics, and she applied counseling strategies to psychological, social, behavioral, and emotional concerns. She worked primarily within the children and adolescent unit, counseling with an emphasis on Reality Therapy, while also leading group therapy, completing assessments and risk screenings, shadowing treatment teams, and participating in family sessions.
Marisa also brings experience from her time as a mental health technician in a children and adolescent unit, where she supported admissions and discharges, monitored vital signs, observed and documented behavior, and facilitated therapeutic and recreational activities in consultation with nurses, social workers, doctors, and therapists.
She is committed to working with diverse populations and holds a strong passion for supporting adolescents, young adults, and their families. Marisa is an LGBTQIA advocate who is especially dedicated to empowering youth exploring identity and helping families build understanding through education and improved communication.
In her most recent role at El Paso Behavioral Health Systems, Marisa served as a program manager for multiple services, including children and adolescents inpatient care, adult and military outpatient groups, and adolescent outpatient groups. In these positions, she collaborated closely with patients, families, and medical staff to help stabilize high-risk children and adults. Her responsibilities included conducting psychological and risk assessments, communicating clinical needs to treatment teams, facilitating daily groups and family sessions, responding to crises on the unit, and using verbal de-escalation to help individuals regain stability during acute moments. She also coordinated with medical staff and treatment teams to support safety planning 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 community settings. That role included ongoing assessment, preliminary diagnosis of Axis I psychiatric and co-occurring disorders, and coordinating community resources to address medical, social, educational, and financial needs, with the goal of improving quality of life and reducing unnecessary inpatient hospitalization.
During her internship at El Paso Behavioral Health, Marisa built foundational skills working with children, adolescents, adults, military populations, and seniors. Her training included crisis counseling and chemical dependency topics, and she applied counseling strategies to psychological, social, behavioral, and emotional concerns. She worked primarily within the children and adolescent unit, counseling with an emphasis on Reality Therapy, while also leading group therapy, completing assessments and risk screenings, shadowing treatment teams, and participating in family sessions.
Marisa also brings experience from her time as a mental health technician in a children and adolescent unit, where she supported admissions and discharges, monitored vital signs, observed and documented behavior, and facilitated therapeutic and recreational activities in consultation with nurses, social workers, doctors, and therapists.
She is committed to working with diverse populations and holds a strong passion for supporting adolescents, young adults, and their families. Marisa is an LGBTQIA advocate who is especially dedicated to empowering youth exploring identity and helping families build understanding through education and improved communication.
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 mental health support across a range of settings.
Is Marisa Esparza a licensed therapist?
Yes. Marisa Esparza is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) 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?
Sessions with Marisa Esparza are available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing clients to choose the format that best fits their needs and schedule.
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 based 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 pricing and plan 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 to 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.
Therapeutic Tools That Translate Well Online
Marisa Esparza draws from evidence-informed approaches that can be adapted to online sessions while staying focused on day-to-day functioning and meaningful change.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients notice patterns in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and practice new responses that better support their goals. It is often used to build coping skills for concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) emphasizes making room for difficult emotions while taking steps aligned with personal values. It can be especially helpful when clients feel stuck, overwhelmed, or pulled into cycles of avoidance. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early and current relationships shape communication, trust, and emotional needs, which can be relevant for relationship concerns and family dynamics.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Marisa collaborates with clients to clarify goals, identify what is most helpful in the moment, and adjust strategies over time based on preferences, progress, and the challenges that show up between sessions.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. This range of options can make it easier to fit support into busy schedules, continue care while traveling, and choose a format that feels comfortable from session to session.