Marissa Yoshikawa-Machado

Marissa Yoshikawa-Machado is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Hawaii who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and feelings of isolation or loneliness. She also supports those dealing with relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and major life changes. Her approach aims to make asking for help feel like a manageable first step.

She uses plain, collaborative talk in sessions. Marissa blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness practices, and client-centered listening to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try small changes. Sessions focus on practical skills and real-life problems rather than long explanations.

Marissa brings four years of counseling experience across several settings. That background includes supporting people with communication problems, workplace stress, and the complex feelings that follow loss or past harm. She describes the therapy space as one where openness and compassion come first.

In meetings with clients she helps name challenges, practice new ways of responding, and plan next steps that fit daily life. She encourages gentle self-compassion and attention to what matters most to each person. Marissa aims to help clients move from feeling stuck toward clearer goals and manageable coping strategies.

To begin, she asks people to reflect on immediate needs and goals so sessions match what matters now. The tone is steady, practical, and hopeful, with room to address both recent stressors and deeper patterns over time.

How Marissa’s approaches translate to online care

Marissa works with Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness Therapy in plain, practical ways. Client-Centered Therapy means the conversation is guided by the person’s concerns, and the therapist listens closely to what matters most. CBT focuses on identifying thought and behavior patterns and trying concrete changes to reduce anxiety, low mood, or workplace stress. Mindfulness Therapy uses simple attention and breathing practices to help people notice feelings without reacting and to build calmer moments in everyday life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before, then try approaches that fit the person’s needs. This is a collaborative process with regular check-ins to see what is working and what to adjust.

If you plan to pursue online therapy, confirm the session formats offered before booking so you know what to expect. Online appointments can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, reduce commute time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. They can also let people use mindfulness exercises and CBT worksheets between sessions to practice new skills in real situations.