- Client-centered focus
- CBT and mindfulness
- Hawaii based LMHC
About Marissa
Marissa Yoshikawa-Machado is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Hawaii who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and challenges with self-esteem. She also supports clients dealing with relationship strain, family concerns, and major life changes. Her approach is warm and straightforward, aimed at making it easier to bring up hard topics and talk them through.
She uses Client-Centered Therapy to keep the work focused on each person's needs and pace. Marissa also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts and behaviors interact, and on mindfulness practices to build present-moment coping skills. Sessions tend to combine listening, gentle reflection, and practical steps clients can try between meetings.
Marissa has four years of experience in counseling roles across varied settings. That background includes helping people with communication problems, workplace issues, isolation or loneliness, guilt and shame, and the work of forgiveness and self-love. Her style aims to be compassionate and nonjudgmental while staying practical.
People who come for support can expect a collaborative process. Marissa will help identify small, manageable goals and test ways to reduce distress and improve daily functioning. She emphasizes steady progress rather than quick fixes.
If someone wants to begin, they complete the site questionnaire and schedule according to availability. Marissa looks to build trust and steady momentum as people move through difficult moments and toward clearer plans for their lives.
How therapeutic approaches shape online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's experience and priorities. It means sessions are guided by the client's concerns and pace, with the therapist offering empathy and reflection rather than directing the conversation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and helps people try specific changes to reduce distress. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve coping with stress.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to the client's goals, try techniques that fit their needs, and adjust the plan based on what helps. This is a collaborative process where feedback shapes each step.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, cutting travel time and allowing appointments during a work break or between errands. They also let people choose shorter check-ins or longer therapy sessions depending on what they need. Licensed professionals often find online work useful for maintaining consistency and bringing therapy into everyday routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
Hawaii
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Marissa commonly help with?
She supports people managing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, self-esteem struggles, relationship and family issues, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm and nonjudgmental and centers the client's pace. Sessions mix listening, reflection, and practical coping exercises to try between meetings.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
She has four years of experience working in a range of counseling settings and with people facing anxiety, depression, communication difficulties, and major life transitions.
What credential does she hold and where is she located?
She is a licensed mental health counselor, LMHC, licensed in Hawaii and practices from that location.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.