About
Hi, I'm Marisa Ybarra
A Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas, ten years into this work, meeting clients entirely by secure video — usually with at least one of my three dogs asleep somewhere behind me.
How I Got Here
I originally considered being a school counselor, but later realized I could make more of an impact by becoming a therapist. Before private practice I spent eight years doing ABA therapy in a school, which is where I learned to read what is actually going on with a teenager who says they are fine — and how to talk with the parents standing behind them.
Ten years on, I specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy and Christian counseling, using a client-centered and solution-focused approach. I believe the client is in control of their therapeutic process. My job is not to hand down verdicts; it is to listen closely, ask direct questions, and tell you the truth as I see it. I have always been the one friends turned to for honest feedback.
I have a specific passion for teenagers, college students and overwhelmed mothers — people who are carrying a great deal and are not used to being asked how they are doing. And I believe a positive mindset can change your perspective on any situation. Not as a slogan. As something we practice.
Eight years in schools taught me what actually shifts a teenager's week — and it was never a lecture.
Before Private Practice
Eight Years of ABA Work in a School
Applied behavior analysis is not therapy, and I do not pretend it is. What it is, is eight years of close attention to what actually changes behavior in a real building on a real Tuesday — what comes right before, what comes right after, and which of the adults in the room are accidentally keeping a pattern alive.
That is where I learned to write a plan plain enough for a tired family to follow, to measure progress in increments most people step over, and to sit with a teenager who has already decided nothing will help. I came to counseling with that in my hands.
Why It Matters If You Are a Parent
- I am not rattled by what a teenager brings into the room.
- I read the gap between “I’m fine” and what is actually happening.
- I know how school, IEPs and teachers really work day to day.
- I talk to parents plainly, without breaking your teen’s trust.
- I look for patterns and triggers, not for someone to blame.
Outside the Session
Married 24 years, four kids in college, three dogs who think they are colleagues.
My four children are all in college right now, which gives me a very current understanding of what that season does to a young adult — and to their parents. At home there are three dogs who keep me company while I see clients. I love to travel to new places, spend time with family, attempt TikTok recipes with mixed results, and volunteer with church ministries.
I have always known I wanted to help others — and I have always been the one friends turned to for honest feedback.
Credentials and Licensure
- Texas Licensed Professional Counselor #74105 — active, expires August 31, 2028.
- MS, Licensed Professional Counselor.
- 10 years in practice as a provider.
- 8 years of ABA therapy experience in a school setting.
- Telehealth only. Available to clients located in Texas.
How I Practice
- Cognitive behavioral therapy — finding the thoughts that run the loop and testing them.
- Client-centered — you set the agenda; I do not decide what matters to you.
- Solution-focused — we work toward what you want, not only through what happened.
- Mindfulness-based — practical ways to get out of your head and back into the day.
- Christian counseling — offered, always optional, only if you want it.
If That Sounds Like the Right Fit
A free consultation is a short conversation — you tell me what is going on, I tell you honestly whether I am the right person for it.