- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Faith-based options
About Elaine
Elaine Messarra is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas with 26 years of experience. She works with adults on concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, addictions, and relationship and intimacy-related issues. Elaine notes experience supporting people through parenting stress, caregiving strain, and life transitions.
She spent two decades as a teacher and school counselor before focusing on psychotherapy. That background informs her work with educators and with people navigating role and life-stage changes. Elaine has also provided individual therapy in private practice and to nursing home and assisted living residents.
Elaine uses a client-centered approach that centers the person's pace and preferences. She combines that with cognitive behavioral ideas, emotionally-focused work, mindfulness, and narrative techniques to address thoughts, feelings, and patterns that keep someone stuck.
Sessions include practical talk therapy where thoughts and feelings are named and processed. She offers faith-based, Bible-based counseling and prayer when requested, and describes religious belief as a possible source of comfort and grounding for clients who want it.
Her way of working emphasizes listening, steady questioning, and helping clients notice patterns in relationships and behavior. Elaine does not provide couples or family sessions; she sees individual adults age 18 and over. Before booking, confirm current session formats and scheduling details.
Therapeutic approaches used in remote sessions
Elaine often combines client-centered work with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on a respectful, patient stance where the client sets the pace and topics; it helps when someone needs listening and validation while sorting feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at thoughts and actions that keep distress going and offers practical ways to test and change them, which can help with anxiety, depression, and guilt-related thinking. Emotionally-Focused Therapy attends to the emotional patterns that shape relationships and attachment, useful for intimacy-related concerns and recurring relationship hurt.Finding the right mix of these approaches is part of the work. Elaine collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She adjusts pace and techniques based on progress and on what the client finds most useful.
The biography indicates past virtual practice but does not list current session formats, so confirm the specific online session options before booking. Online work can make scheduling easier and fit sessions into a busy week. It can allow shorter check-ins, reduce travel time, and make it simpler to keep continuity of care across life changes. Licensed professionals adapt the approach to the online context so sessions remain focused on practical thinking, emotional processing, and relationship patterns.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Listed in
Texas
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and related areas such as caregiver stress and chronic illness.
How would she approach guilt or shame?
Elaine uses a client-centered style paired with cognitive and emotionally focused techniques to help clients name feelings, trace patterns, and practice different responses to self-judgment.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 26 years of experience as a psychotherapist, including private practice work and earlier roles as a teacher and school counselor.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and provides services from that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
What formats are used for sessions?
The biography lists prior virtual practice but does not specify current session formats; please confirm the available session formats before booking.
How are fees and scheduling handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to begin, complete the short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.