Marcela Mota Aversa , LMHC

Marcela Mota Aversa is a licensed mental health counselor who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, addiction, and life transitions. She speaks English and Spanish and draws on 20 years of experience to offer practical, down-to-earth support. Marcela welcomes straightforward conversation and aims to make therapy easy to follow for busy people.

Her style is collaborative and strength based. She works with clients to identify practical steps they can use between sessions. Marcela views the person in the center of their story and offers companionship and guidance rather than lectures.

Marcela has spent much of her career supporting people through addiction and recovery, and she has personal experience in 12-step based recovery for 16 years. That background informs how she approaches issues like substance use, motivation, and relapse prevention in day-to-day life.

She also supports concerns such as eating and body image struggles, relationship and family stress, parenting strain, career questions, sleep problems, and managing mood conditions including depression and bipolar-related challenges. She pays attention to cultural and immigration-related pressures as well.

Sessions focus on clear goals and techniques drawn from several evidence-informed approaches. Clients can expect straightforward tools to manage emotions, skills for coping with stress, and collaborative planning for change. Marcela aims to make therapy practical and manageable, especially for people balancing work, caregiving, or busy schedules.

Approaches that translate well to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and building a trusting relationship so the client feels understood and can find their own solutions.

Marcela will work together with each person to decide which approach fits best. She discusses goals and preferences, then blends techniques from ACT, CBT, DBT skills, and mindfulness to match the situation. That collaborative process helps clients feel involved in shaping their treatment plan.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is helpful for a fuller conversation and visual cues, while phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Shorter check-ins or coaching-style messaging can fit into busy days and help maintain momentum between longer sessions.