- Trauma informed
- LGBTQ+ ally
- Focus on values
About Marisela
Marisela Cuellar-VanHouten is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) based in Michigan. She has spent a decade providing individual therapy and supports people facing trauma, mood concerns such as bipolar disorder and depression, anxiety, stress, and relationship or intimacy-related issues. She is an LGBTQ+ ally and pays attention to how culture shapes each person’s experience.
Her style is respectful and direct. She listens first and then tailors conversation and plans to each person’s needs. Sessions often focus on building confidence, coping with life changes, and practical steps to manage sleep, anger, or everyday habits and thoughts. She also helps when caregiving becomes overwhelming or when chronic illness and pain complicate daily life.
Marisela uses several evidence-informed approaches to guide work in therapy. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques are used to spot and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior. Mindfulness and client-centered work help people stay grounded and feel heard during hard conversations.
She aims to create a supportive space where people can explore grief, abandonment concerns, self-esteem, or career choices without judgment. The focus is practical change alongside emotional support. People who want a therapy partner for problem solving and emotional growth may find her approach helpful.
Marisela holds an LMSW and brings ten years of individual therapy experience to her practice in Michigan. She encourages anyone ready to start to take the first step toward clearer goals and steadier daily habits.
Her style is respectful and direct. She listens first and then tailors conversation and plans to each person’s needs. Sessions often focus on building confidence, coping with life changes, and practical steps to manage sleep, anger, or everyday habits and thoughts. She also helps when caregiving becomes overwhelming or when chronic illness and pain complicate daily life.
Marisela uses several evidence-informed approaches to guide work in therapy. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take meaningful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques are used to spot and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior. Mindfulness and client-centered work help people stay grounded and feel heard during hard conversations.
She aims to create a supportive space where people can explore grief, abandonment concerns, self-esteem, or career choices without judgment. The focus is practical change alongside emotional support. People who want a therapy partner for problem solving and emotional growth may find her approach helpful.
Marisela holds an LMSW and brings ten years of individual therapy experience to her practice in Michigan. She encourages anyone ready to start to take the first step toward clearer goals and steadier daily habits.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship 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 OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung 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
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
How her approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters most and taking small steps toward those values. It helps with motivation, life changes, and persistent worries that interfere with daily routines. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and offers practical tools to change unhelpful patterns such as poor sleep habits or negative self-talk. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and grounding skills that can reduce reactivity and help manage stress and anger.Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk about your goals and try different tools to see what fits. Sessions are collaborative and adjusted over time based on what helps you make steady changes in thoughts and everyday habits.
Confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when a full hour is not possible, and reduce travel time. These practical benefits can help people keep therapy consistent while working on mood, coping strategies, caregiving strain, or relationship concerns.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She supports people dealing with trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, caregiving strain, relationship and intimacy issues, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, ADHD, and related areas.
What is her general therapy style?
Her approach is respectful and client-centered. She listens closely, tailors conversations, and focuses on practical steps to change thoughts and everyday habits.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 30 years of professional work experience overall, with 10 years specifically providing individual therapy.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker, and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.