About
Carissa Cullum Ferdinand
After twelve years in private clinical practice, I wanted to bring the depth of traditional therapy into a modern coaching format — guided, structured, and held with the same care I’d offer in my office.
Credentials
Licensing
Florida
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
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Illinois
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
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Michigan
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
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Education
MA Counseling
Northwestern University, 2021
MA Latin American Studies
University of Florida, 2017
BA English Literature
The University of Tampa, 2013
My Story
From student affairs to mental health counseling
I began my career in a community mental health clinic in Brooklyn, where the days were long and the conversations were unguarded. I learned to listen, to slow down, and to trust that the body knows things the mind hasn’t named yet.
Over the years I moved into private practice, then into trauma-informed work, then into coaching. Each shift was an attempt to make depth work more accessible — to meet people earlier, before crisis, with practices they could actually use.
TherapyCoach is the culmination of that arc. A small set of carefully designed programs, supported by real one-on-one sessions, held inside an environment built for confidentiality and ease.
Philosophy
What I believe about change
- Awareness without practice fades. Practice without awareness exhausts.
- The nervous system learns through repetition and safety — not insight alone.
- Therapy works best when it includes the body, not only the story.
- Healing is not a destination. It’s a relationship you build with yourself.
Values
What guides the work, every session
Compassion
I lead with compassion and believe that curiosity (rather than criticism) is key.
Safety
Developing emotional safety and security is a necessity for change.
Feedback
Real change moves slowly. We honor that.
Humor
Developing a healthy sense of humor helps us move through life more easily.
Ready When You Are
Begin something meaningful.
A single conversation is enough to know whether this is the right fit. There’s no pressure — only possibility.