Carissa Streich, LICSW

Carissa Streich is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in Washington with nine years of clinical experience. She has worked with people across the age spectrum addressing concerns such as depression, stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, life transitions, career challenges, and the impacts of physical trauma or emotional abuse. Her practice also supports those facing grief, addiction, and the complexities of family and blended-family dynamics.

Her therapeutic style is warm and strengths-based while remaining direct when needed. Carissa blends cognitive behavioral techniques with psychodynamic insights within a trauma-informed framework, tailoring the pace, communication, and treatment plan to each person’s needs. She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion in all interactions and seeks to build a collaborative working relationship that honors each client’s goals.

Carissa encourages people who are ready to pursue change to reach out. She frames the counseling process as one of partnership - offering support, practical strategies, and reflective exploration to help clients move forward and regain a sense of agency in their lives.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Carissa draws from cognitive behavioral therapy and client-centered principles to guide online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and developing practical skills to manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, and stress. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental stance that helps people explore their values, build self-understanding, and strengthen internal resources. Motivational interviewing is also part of her toolkit - a collaborative conversational method that supports people who are ambivalent about change and helps clarify personal motivation and goals.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Carissa works collaboratively with each client to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques and pace as the work evolves.

Online sessions via video, phone, live chat, or text messaging offer flexibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limits, or geographic constraints. These options make it easier to maintain regular appointments, try brief check-ins between sessions, and access care from home or another comfortable setting, while still working with a licensed professional.