Merissa works with children, adolescents, and adults through an integrative, person-centered approach, incorporating skills-based interventions informed by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to meet each client where they are emotionally. She strives to create a warm, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients feel understood, empowered, and equipped with tools to navigate life's challenges.

Merissa has a particular appreciation for adolescence as a pivotal period of growth, identity exploration, and emerging autonomy.

She approaches this work with warmth, attunement, and genuine curiosity, recognizing the importance of understanding each young person's unique experiences and perspective. She is especially passionate about supporting adolescents navigating anxiety, school-related stress, and challenges with emotional regulation. Through this work, she helps young people develop practical coping skills, strengthen their self-understanding, and build confidence in their ability to navigate challenges across different environments.

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Merissa earned her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, from Pepperdine University. She is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #165234). Her clinical foundation began in applied behavior analysis, where she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician supporting children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral needs. She later continued her work in education as a paraprofessional in special education with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. During her graduate training, she completed a clinical internship in a high school setting, providing individual counseling, crisis intervention, and risk assessment to adolescents.