I didn’t expect to get the right therapist the very first try, but I got amazingly blessed to not only get a good therapist the 1st try, but I found THE therapist for me on the first try. She is an amazing person as well as a very empathetic and highly skilled therapist. Thank you to her! and thank you BetterHelp!
Marisa Esparza, LPC
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Marisa is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 5.0 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Marisa. View 38 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Texas
Recent reviews
Marisa is a great therapist who makes me feel comfortable and safe while asking the hard questions that help me to challenge my thought processes. This is what I’ve desperately needed from a therapist- kind but direct. I didn’t know it was possible to laugh during a session, but Marisa’s sense of humor can makes her easy to connect with.
More about Marisa
- 10 years' experience
- Female
- LPC
My name Is Marisa Esparza. I am a licensed LPC in Texas. I completed my Masters of Education in Mental Health Counseling from University of Texas at El Paso in December 2015 and have a Bachelors in Education from the University of Texas at El Paso in May 2011. I have worked in several settings that I feel allow me the advantage to recognize the barriers and conflicts with receiving mental health treatment.
My most recent position at El Paso Behavioral Health systems includes: Program manager children and adolescents inpatient unit, Program manager adult and military outpatient group, Program manager adolescent outpatient group. In this position I was able to Work collaboratively with patients, medical staff, and families to help stabilize high risk children and adults. I Provided psychological assessments and risk assessments to determine needs and communicate with medical staff. I facilitated daily groups as well as family sessions. I worked collaboratively with treatment teams and attended to emergency crisis on unit. I was able to build rapport with adult and children and provide verbal deescalation when in crisis. I assisted with medical staff and treatment team to determine safety in community.
Previously I worked s a qualified mental health professional on the Assertive Community Treatment Team I provided individual psychiatric rehabilitative skills training and crisis assessment/management in consumers's homes and in the community. I provided ongoing assessment, preliminary diagnosis of present Axis 1 psychiatric and co-occurring disorders. My job required coordinating of community resources to assist in assessing medical, social, educational, financial, and other appropriate services that help in achieving an improved quality of life, increase tenure in the community, and decrease the need for unnecessary inpatient hospitalization.
Throughout my internship at El Paso Behavioral Health,I developed the necessary skills in order to work effectively with children, adolescents, adults, military, and seniors. Through my course work I was able to gain an understanding of mental health, chemical dependency, crisis counseling, as well as other areas of counseling. I was able to effectively apply counseling for clients experiencing psychological, social, behavioral, and emotional issues. As an intern I worked primarily in the Children and Adolescent Unit, I counseled with emphasis on Reality Therapy. I worked with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. I ran group therapy sessions, completed assessments, took risk assessments, shadowed treatments teams, and attended family sessions.
As a Mental Health Technician in the Children and Adolescent Unit, I helped admit and discharge patients. I maintained close contact with them, and monitored vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. I observed patient behaviors, recorded their conditions and lead them in therapeutic and recreational activities. I regularly consulted with RN’s, LVN’s, social workers, Dr.’s, and therapists.
I am confident in my skills and abilities and am willing to work with all populations. I have a deep passion for working with adolescents, young adults, and their families. It has been in my experience that there is a disconnect in communication and world views. I am a LGBTQIA advocate and passionate about empowering youth exploring their identity as well as educating families. I have been able to explore several populations within inpatient hospitals, out patient settings, and the community. This advantage has allowed me to grow as a clinician and empathize with all my patient populations better.
Specialties
Treatment Approaches
- 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
Licenses
Marisa Esparza's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1508509563.
- LPC · Texas · 81589 · Expires April 2026
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.
Reviews for Marisa Esparza
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
I didn’t expect to get the right therapist the very first try, but I got amazingly blessed to not only get a good therapist the 1st try, but I found THE therapist for me on the first try. She is an amazing person as well as a very empathetic and highly skilled therapist. Thank you to her! and thank you BetterHelp!
Marisa is a great therapist who makes me feel comfortable and safe while asking the hard questions that help me to challenge my thought processes. This is what I’ve desperately needed from a therapist- kind but direct. I didn’t know it was possible to laugh during a session, but Marisa’s sense of humor can makes her easy to connect with.
Great listener and very knowledgeable!
Marisa is kind, non judgmental, and an active listener who helps empower clients with tools to self regulate
So far it's been such a good adventure to have Marisa Esparza as my doctor and I'm pretty convinced that she will fulfill the necessities that you have as a patient
She’s great. Very caring and understanding, but also will not coddle. Exactly the therapist I needed
She's very knowledgeable and attentive to my needs. I would recommend her to anyone in need of therapy
Marisa is awesome I love her advice. I would definitely recommend her to anyone.
Marisa listens intently and is a wonderful therapist.
Being my first time in therapy with Marisa was very easy to talk to, she was very diligent with the advice given. She makes sure that the patient is comfortable and understands. She is very empathetic; I loved the way we connected in therapy after therapy. I was very eager to have her call and talk about how I was progressing considering the goal I wanted to achieve. I would definitely recommend her.
She definitely helped me during a time when I was unable to forgive my mother and brother for past traumatic experiences. She has been a huge support system for me.
Maria knows how to listen and get to the point to support my concerns - she is very knowledgeable- I was able to make progress in a short amount of time
Marisa is a caring therapist that listens to my concerns and gives me time to communicate how I’m feeling. She is flexible with appointment times and always communicates cancellations.
Happy with her. She support, understand and respect me
Sometimes when something is so great, all you can do is appreciate. No need for a long winded review, she's truly amazing.
I like Marisa, she is compassionate listener, relatable, and practical
Marisa told me day one “if you don’t match with your therapist swipe right” I appreciated that comment and it also made me less nervous for that first session. She has been very receptive to things I say, remembers names, and specific details. She has a gift for what she does.
I've had a great experience with Marisa and have felt hopeful because of our interactions.
She is so helpful. She doesn't just listen, she helps me understand where my spouse is coming from and still respect both of our experiences. She gives true helpful suggestions when I'm feeling completely stuck and unable to function. She had helped me to really analyze what I want and how to be clear about it. I've had many therapist, she's the first I feel had actually made any difference for me.
Marisa is wonderful! I was terrified to start therapy because I was worried my therapist would not take me seriously or be dismissive. I hear to many stories of this happening and I did not want that to happen. I have nothing but praise for Marisa! She’s been kind and understanding and so compassionate. She validated my concerns and has made me feel so at ease. I definitely feel a lot better after each session, I’m grateful!
I appreciate Marisa’s patience! She listens to all of my needs and gives me the validation that I need when I feel like I’m being too emotional about certain situations. I always enjoy our sessions!!
My time working with Marisa was a very wonderful experience. I always felt heard and her advice was helpful. I found it easy to open up to her, and am very grateful for the warmth and safety I felt in our sessions. I can highly recommend working with Marisa. And I look forward to coming back soon.
So far she is great. Offers support that feels genuine, takes care in remembering/taking notes on previous sessions, engaging in the dialogue, getting me to talk…
Marisa is extremely professional, supportive and thoughtful. She is great at capturing the main points from my rants and asking reflective questions. She is very patient and kind and down-to-earth. I was working through infidelity in my relationship. She helped me to realign my values and learn what forgiveness really means for me. And she is helping me see forward and process key emotions. She is very good at identifying what might be holding me back and then offering different perspective to see reality in a more positive way. She never excuses wrong-doings, but helps me focus on the healing. I would highly recommend her.
She’s been the best. She always makes me feel like my feelings are valid and always has time for me. Even when I have to reschedule last minute because my original time no longer works in my schedule, she always makes sure to squeeze me in, especially if she knows I’m having a tough week. She’s one of the best therapists I’ve had and I wouldn’t want someone else
I am feeling confident that she will help me get through my current huddle.
Marisa has been so helpful and reliable, she listens and understands and has made me feel like I could reach out at any point which has also helped me reach out to friends and family more. She is definitely someone I would recommend to anyone wanting to start therapy. Her advice is golden and she is easy to talk to.
Very much enjoying the session She’s kind thoughtful and Genuine
Marisa is an incredibly smart and wonderful therapist! She has helped me a lot to gain real confidence, see value in my life and let go of many things that were preventing me from it. She is very supportive, open, positive and sincere. She understands immediately any of my concerns or fears and knows how to name them and work on them. Before I met her I suffered from depression, saw no hope and I couldn't feel any joy - I couldn't even understand the "joy" everyone is talking about. She was so patient kind smart and generous with me that I slowly started to reconnect with myself. Very intelligent woman. Very kind soul. Marisa is a gem.
I feel lucky to have found her!
Marisa has been a delight to work with so far. I’ve felt very comfortable opening up to her and being very honest with her and she’s very practical in her approach
I believe Marisa is very good match for me.
understanding. doesn't judge. patient. great therapist.
She is great, funny, and respectful. She is a great therapist, specifically if you’re struggling with anxiety.
I love Marisa! She is incredibly helpful for students with anxiety and really makes you feel listened to. She asks all of the right questions to make you re-think the way you approach your challenges.
So far I’ve only had one session with her, but it was one of the best sessions I’ve ever had. From the first thing issue she was attentive and made me feel validated in my concerns. Im excited to move forward with her as my therapist
Marisa has been immensely helpful to me, my wife, and our situation. We are still in the very early stages of therapy, but I have learned a lot so far, and will continue to implement everything in my daily life. Thank you for always listening with an open mind, I am not afraid to tell you anything. I appreciate both the good days and the bad days - we can learn something from every day.
Marisa is amazing! I instantly felt a rapport with her and she's so easy to talk to. Her amount of experience is amazing, she is truly empathetic, and has helped me a lot already ☺
Frequently asked questions
Does Marisa Esparza offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Marisa Esparza works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Marisa Esparza speak?
Marisa Esparza speaks English.
How many years of experience does Marisa Esparza have?
Marisa Esparza has 10 years of experience.
Where is Marisa Esparza licensed to practice?
Marisa Esparza is licensed to practice in Texas.
Does Marisa Esparza accept clients outside of the United States?
Yes, Marisa Esparza accepts clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Marisa Esparza offer?
Marisa Esparza offers clients 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, and Internal Family Systems.
How can I communicate with Marisa Esparza?
Marisa Esparza can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Marisa Esparza?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.