Clarissa Greguska

What it’s like to be in therapy with me

Everyone is worthy of love and capable of creating change through self-compassion, but sometimes we get stuck, or feel too overwhelmed to tap into our fullest selves. Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, struggling with depression or anxiety, feeling the weight of a relationship that needs tending to, or wondering why your drive and creativity aren’t translating into the fulfillment you expected, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

I am passionate about helping people reconnect with a sense of purpose and possibility, with a distinct emphasis on navigating life changes and transitions. Having experienced my own major life transitions, including becoming a mother and relocating across the country within the same chapter of my life, I understand firsthand how overwhelming and disorienting change can be.

I am a Board-Certified Art Therapist specializing in trauma, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), body awareness, and creative expression. I am especially effective with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, ADHD, low self-esteem or a loud inner critic, and body image struggles; with couples and those navigating relationship challenges; with parents seeking support in their role; and with high achievers and creative thinkers. I’m also drawn to working with people who have always felt a little like they don’t quite fit in, and who are looking for a space where that is not only okay, but understood.

Although I work entirely online, I’ve found that some of my most meaningful and connected work happens through telehealth. I take care to create a space where you can feel safe, seen, and supported, no matter where you’re joining from.

How I approach therapy

Because every person is truly unique, I don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I use compassion, humor, art, play, and curiosity to get to know you, your goals, your fears, and everything in between, and I use that understanding as a platform to help you build greater self-awareness and more effective coping skills.

As an art therapist, I often integrate creative interventions into my work, and I find that art can be especially useful for expressing feelings or surfacing insights we don’t yet have words for. I am client-centered, which means I work collaboratively with you from a place of personal strength. Therapy is challenging work, and it’s my job to make sure you feel supported as we dig deeper into your emotional world.

One aspect of my approach I find particularly meaningful is bottom-up processing, which means starting with what the body knows implicitly, tuning into gut reactions, and tracing how those experiences manifest in our thoughts and behaviors. Sensory input, movement, and body awareness have been integral tools in my own life, and that lived experience shapes the somatic lens I bring to my work with both individuals and couples.

Above all, I believe the therapeutic relationship is one of the most critical components of treatment. As your therapist, I will be your advocate, cheerleader, and coach, committed to helping you figure out what feels most helpful in reaching your best self.

Education and Professional Background

Since high school, I’ve known that working in mental health was my calling. I hold undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Art Therapy from Edgewood College, and dual Master’s degrees in Clinical Counseling and Art Therapy from the University of Illinois at Edwardsville (2014). I have been active in art therapy advocacy at both the state and local level, including leadership roles in the Southern California and Missouri Art Therapy Chapters, and I’ve participated as an artist and mental health advocate at the Pasadena Chalk Festival.

Clinical Training and Experience

My clinical training has been diverse, spanning inpatient psychiatric care, residential and in-home therapy with children and adolescents, Head Start programs, and crisis and recovery work with adults navigating co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges.

I’ve also pursued advanced training in somatic pain, emotional regulation, and Emotionally Focused Therapy, including specialized coursework in integrating sex and sexuality into couples work, an area I find especially valuable. I am a bit of a continuing education nerd and am always reading, listening, and learning both within and beyond my fields.

A bit more about me