Licensed Psychologist

Cara M. Crisson, Psy.D. is a Licensed Psychologist at our Robinson clinic who provides individual counseling services in-person and via telehealth. She focuses on helping adults and older adolescents. Her approach is holistic, including a focus on each individual’s perceptions of challenges internally and environmentally. Dr. Crisson primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and incorporates elements of Adlerian Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She uses Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to treat traumatic stress disorders and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Therapy with Dr. Crisson combines collaboration and structured guidance which allows for flexibility and encourages self-efficacy.

Dr. Crisson specializes in helping clients struggling with mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder), anxiety, OCD, traumatic stress reactions, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), insomnia, and problematic sexual behaviors. She also has expertise providing personality, intellectual, and cognitive assessments.

Dr. Crisson’s professional background includes academia, hospitals, civil commitment programs, and correctional institutions. She is skilled in treating individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds, with particular focus on working with the LGBTQIA+ community, and their families.
A Pittsburgh native, Dr. Crisson earned her B.A. in Psychology, M.S. in Professional Counseling, and Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology from Carlow University. She temporarily relocated to northern Minnesota, where she learned cold-weather survival and even tried curling (it didn’t go so well). In her free time, Dr. Crisson enjoys reading, live music, travel, and watching hockey.