Profile / United States

Marisela Cuellar-VanHouten, LMSW

Michigan

LMSW in Michigan - trauma and mood concerns

CBT and ACT methods
Mindfulness and DBT skills
LGBTQ ally

About Marisela

Marisela Cuellar-VanHouten is an LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker practicing in Michigan with 10 years providing individual therapy. She works with people facing trauma and abuse, mood concerns such as bipolar and depression, and struggles with stress, anxiety, and sleep. She also helps with parenting issues, relationship concerns, grief, and questions about identity and intimacy.

Her approach uses practical, skills-based methods. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used when emotion regulation and present-moment attention are helpful.

Sessions focus on concrete steps. Clients can expect to notice thought patterns, try experiments, and use simple coping skills between meetings. Conversations are shaped around what the person wants to change and what feels workable in day-to-day life.

She describes herself as an LGBTQ+ ally and pays attention to cultural factors that affect care. The therapist also works with people managing chronic illness, caregiver stress, and compassion fatigue, offering strategies for pacing and practical self-care.

People who choose to work with her start with a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Fees vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Sessions and follow-up plans are adjusted as needed based on progress and goals.

How her approaches translate to online work

Marisela uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and test thoughts and behaviors. CBT in practice means tracking situations, identifying unhelpful thinking, and trying small behavioral experiments that can be practiced between sessions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is used to clarify values and accept difficult feelings while taking actionable steps toward goals. ACT often helps when someone wants to move forward despite recurring fears or setbacks.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. She will discuss options, explain what each method involves, and decide collaboratively which techniques to emphasize based on the client's goals and preferences. That allows adjustments over time if a different mix of skills seems more useful.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, or use shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also supports practicing skills in real-life settings between meetings. If a client wants to schedule a first session they should complete the matching questionnaire and then arrange the session time that suits their routine.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Trauma and abuseParenting issuesBipolar disorderDepression Coping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, Anxiety LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issues Workplace issues Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Listed in

Michigan

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she help with most often?

She works with trauma and abuse, mood disorders like bipolar and depression, anxiety and stress, parenting and relationship issues, grief, sleep problems, and caregiver fatigue.

How would she describe her therapeutic style?

The style is practical and skills-focused, using exercises to notice thoughts and try new behaviors between sessions.

What experience does she bring to therapy sessions?

She has 10 years of experience providing individual therapy and a longer professional background in related work.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is an LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker practicing in Michigan.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the US work with her?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

How are fees and payment handled?

Costs vary with location and are handled through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working with her?

Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.

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