Carissa Streich , LICSW

Carissa Streich is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in Washington with nine years of clinical experience. She has supported people across the age spectrum with concerns ranging from depression, stress, and anxiety to relationship struggles, life transitions, career challenges, bullying, and eating or substance-related issues. Her work also includes helping individuals who have experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse, as well as a range of family and workplace difficulties.

Her counseling style is direct yet warm, grounded in a strengths-based perspective that treats each person with respect and compassion. She integrates core ideas from cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic therapies and applies a trauma-informed framework to guide assessment and intervention. Carissa adapts the pace of work, the focus of conversations, and the treatment plan to reflect each person’s unique needs and circumstances.

Carissa brings particular attention to grief, compassion fatigue, first responder and veteran issues, non-monogamous relationship dynamics, and challenges common to young adults. She emphasizes collaborative work with clients to build practical coping strategies, clarify goals, and support meaningful change within the context of each client’s life.

Approach-Focused Online Therapy with a Licensed Professional

Carissa often draws from client-centered therapy, which prioritizes empathy and collaboration and helps clients explore their values, strengths, and goals in a nonjudgmental way. This approach can support people coping with life transitions, self-esteem concerns, and relational challenges.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a practical method that looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches strategies to reduce anxiety, manage depression, and change unhelpful patterns. Motivational interviewing is another tool she employs to help people clarify their reasons for change and build internal motivation, particularly around addictions, career shifts, or health-related goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Carissa works collaboratively with clients to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for busy schedules, geographic constraints, or different comfort levels with technology. Online therapy can make it easier to maintain consistent support while adapting session formats to what works best for each person.