Marisela Cuellar-VanHouten, LMSW

Marisela Cuellar-VanHouten is a licensed clinical social worker in Michigan who focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and life transitions. She supports clients facing bipolar disorder, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, grief, and struggles with self-esteem and motivation. Marisela presents as respectful and compassionate and aims to tailor care to each person's needs.

She uses practical talk to help people find clearer ways to handle day-to-day problems. Marisela draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, and a client-centered approach to guide sessions. She works to make techniques easy to use between meetings so progress can continue outside the session.

Marisela has ten years of direct experience providing individual therapy and a longer professional background in related work. That experience informs how she frames goals, sets small steps, and adjusts plans when life gets in the way. She emphasizes respect for identity and culture, and she identifies as an LGBTQ+ ally.

In sessions she listens for what matters most to a person and helps shape practical strategies for change. People can expect a collaborative tone, clear explanations, and gentle coaching toward goals like better sleep, improved relationships, or reduced stress. Marisela aims to support clients through steady, achievable steps toward a more satisfying life.

She offers sessions in English and provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Marisela often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try different behaviors that can reduce anxiety, depression, or sleep problems. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is another approach she uses to help people clarify values, accept difficult feelings, and take committed action toward a meaningful life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Marisela will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and then suggest methods that fit their needs. This is a collaborative process and plans can change as progress is made or new challenges appear.

Online therapy allows sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to match different schedules and needs. Video calls work well for deeper conversation and watching nonverbal cues. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or when a person prefers not to be on camera. Live chat or text messaging can be a good option for brief check-ins, ongoing coaching, or when a flexible, quick response fits a busy day.