Tessa Carrera

Hello!  I'm Tessa Carrera.  I'm a therapist in the greater Houston, Texas area, providing teletherapy services to individuals and couples in Texas and abroad.  

I began my journey in the area of psychotherapy more than a decade ago. I strive to provide a safe space where your experiences and relationships can be explored, emphasizing trust and collaboration. I believe that having genuine, nonjudgmental support during difficult times can make the experience less isolating and provides the ideal environment for growth to organically unfold. The work that I do is strength-based and goal-focused which allows you to feel empowered as we engage in our work together.

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I enjoy working with adult clients of all ages with a wide range of presenting concerns; however, I hold a passion for working with:

• Individuals trying to manage stress, experiencing major life transitions, establishing meaningful parenting frameworks, building healthy coping skills, and developing effective communication skills.  I also specialize in working with young adults who are first-generation college students and professionals learning to build self-efficacy, design their professional identities, balance their academic/career goals with financial needs, and working through imposter syndrome.

• Couples who need premarital therapy and newly married couples having difficulty communicating effectively, maintaining their connection, setting boundaries, finding work/family balance, and managing technology & social media interference.

• I utilize a combination of approaches that include:

Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical (DBT)

Marital Therapy

Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)

Integrative Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Person-Centered

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychotherapy

Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Strengths-Based Therapy

SYMBIS Facilitator

Background, Education & Experience

I am a transplant from Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies now living in Houston, Texas.  I received my Bachelors in Social Work from Oakwood University and my Masters of Science in Counseling from the University of Houston Clear Lake (UHCL).  During my graduate studies, I interned at a private practice in Texas City, Texas where I worked individually and in groups with juvenile group home residents. I helped them develop life skills, create realistic goals and develop plans for a successful transition out of the group home program.  While completing my supervised licensure hours, I had the opportunity to work at two community colleges.  I worked specifically with college students of all ages, helping them learn to navigate a new academic environment, develop career goals, and identify areas of strength that would help them excel in an ever-changing job market.  In both instances,  I saw firsthand how a strong, therapist-client relationship helps sustain and encourage therapeutic progress.