Dr. Carissa Douglas has a passion for working with children, adolescents, and adults with Selective Mutism (SM) and other anxiety-related conditions. She helps her clients overcome their anxiety about speaking to others by first helping them feel comfortable in the therapy room. She uses her skills to foster brave talking in the room, then translates those skills to the community through the use of exposure activities and school fade-ins. Dr. Douglas engages her clients in exposures that are relevant to their everyday life such as ordering food from a restaurant, paying for items in the store, and asking for help in the community. She also works with youth in the school setting to assist them in speaking with their peers, teachers, and other school personnel. As a former school psychologist with the Department of Defense, Dr. Douglas feels right at home when collaborating and consulting with teachers, school psychologists, school counselors, speech and language pathologists, principals, and other school personnel to provide education and assist them in helping the child at school, as well as supporting families through 504 and IEP processes.

Dr. Douglas has helped numerous individuals with SM grow in courage and confidence throughout her treatment with them. It is a heart-warming experience for her to see a child speak to their peers and teachers, or in the community for the first time. Dr. Douglas has been a very integral piece in the progress of many individuals with SM, including one young girl who, before coming into treatment, only spoke to her parents inside the home, is now flourishing in school. This child is now often the center of attention with her peers, verbally directing play with peers and teachers, and teaching her friends Spanish. This child was even able to enjoy her birthday at school for the first time! Stories like this one are what drive Dr. Douglas’ passion for working with individuals with SM.

In addition to the work she does with clients in individual treatment, Dr. Douglas has served as the Lead Clinician for Pinnacle Counseling and Testing Center’s Outside Voice SM summer camps, as well as service as Lead Clinician and Assistant Lead for various Half-Day Group Intensive sessions for children and adolescents with SM at Pinnacle Counseling and Testing Center. Dr. Douglas is dedicated to helping children, adolescents, and adults with SM find their voice. There is hope for healing!

Carissa Douglas, Psy.D.
Psychological Assistant (PSB94021524)
Supervised by Clarissa Gosney, Psy.D. (PSY29633)

Pinnacle Counseling and Testing Center
951-396-5701
www.pinnaclecounselingca.com

Murrieta Office
41197 Golden Gate Circle, Suite 206
Murrieta, CA 92562