Marcela Mota Aversa, LMHC

Marcela Mota Aversa is a licensed mental health counselor with more than 20 years of experience. She speaks English and Spanish and brings a warm, down-to-earth style to sessions. Marcela describes therapy as a collaborative process and treats each person as the expert on their life.

She was born and raised in Mexico City and has lived in Boston for over two decades. Marcela has spent many years supporting people through addiction recovery and maintained 16 years in 12-step based recovery herself. She frames her work around strengths and practical steps rather than labels.

Marcela uses approaches that emphasize acceptance, mindful awareness, and skill-building. In sessions she helps people identify values, practice new behaviors, and manage difficult thoughts and emotions. She often combines cognitive tools with mindfulness and acceptance strategies to meet real-life problems.

The practice includes help for stress, anxiety, depression, grief, sleep problems, and substance use concerns. Additional focuses include caregiver stress, body image, isolation and aging and geriatric issues. She also supports people facing immigration-related concerns, midlife transitions, and career or life-purpose questions.

Marcela compares her role to a family primary care provider for emotional health - a generalist who listens closely and offers guidance. To begin, she asks people about their goals and what matters most to them. Her aim is to work side by side with practical tools and steady support.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take steps toward those values even when strong feelings get in the way. It is useful for anxiety, depression, behavioral patterns, and life transitions. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and the client’s own direction; the therapist provides companionship and gentle guidance while people find their path.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on noticing thoughts and testing them against real-life evidence, then practicing small behavior changes. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and managing urges or cravings.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. Marcela will work with each person to choose techniques that match goals, comfort level, and daily life. She mixes acceptance, mindfulness, and cognitive tools as needed and adjusts the plan based on progress and preferences.

Many people find online work helpful for fitting therapy into busy schedules and for keeping check-ins consistent. The original profile mentions teletherapy as part of her practice, so confirm available session formats when you arrange a first visit. Online sessions can make it easier to do shorter check-ins, avoid travel time, or stay in regular contact during life transitions.