Dr. Mara Mesa
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Dr. Mara Mesa is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor based in Palm Coast, Florida. She provides in-person counseling and telehealth services for adults throughout Florida in English and Spanish.
Dr. Mesa holds a Doctorate in Community Care and Traumatology and a Master’s in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Her education informs her understanding of how trauma, relationships, and life experiences affect emotional well-being, identity, and connection.
As the Founder and Clinical Director of Mara Grace Counseling, Dr. Mesa is committed to creating a welcoming environment where clients can explore their experiences, develop practical skills, and move toward meaningful change.
Supporting Veterans and Adults Navigating Trauma
Dr. Mesa is a U.S. Army veteran, the wife of a retired combat veteran, and a mother of three. These experiences inform her understanding of military service, family responsibilities, and the challenges of adjusting to changing roles.
Dr. Mesa's work with veterans includes support for deployment-related trauma, moral injury, reintegration, and the emotional impact of service. She also works with adults who have experienced childhood trauma and other distressing life events, helping them understand how those experiences affect their present lives.
Her areas of focus include:
-
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
-
Anxiety and depression
-
Addiction and substance use
-
Grief, anger, and concerns about self-worth
-
Emotional and adjustment concerns associated with traumatic brain injury
-
Interpersonal and relationship difficulties
-
Military-related challenges and transitions to civilian life
-
Major life changes and emotional overwhelm
Dr. Mesa's Approach to Counseling
Dr. Mesa’s approach is compassionate, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based clinical practices. She works with clients to identify their goals, understand patterns that contribute to distress, and develop strategies that support healing and daily functioning.
She is trained in:
-
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
-
CPT: Cognitive Processing Therapy
-
DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
-
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Treatment is tailored to each client’s needs, preferences, and readiness. When requested, Dr. Mesa incorporates Christian faith, biblical principles, and prayer into counseling while respecting each client’s beliefs and choices.
Investing in Future Counselors
As a Florida Board-Approved Qualified Supervisor, Dr. Mesa provides clinical supervision to registered mental health counseling interns pursuing licensure. She also supports master’s-level counseling interns as they develop their clinical skills.
Dr. Mesa's supervision is active and collaborative. Although she is not present during interns’ counseling sessions, she reviews session notes, provides individualized feedback and training, and collaborates on treatment plans and interventions tailored to each client’s needs.
Through ongoing consultation and mentorship, she helps interns strengthen their clinical judgment, connect theory with practice, and respond thoughtfully to client progress and challenges.
Take the Next Step
Whether you are seeking support for trauma, navigating a difficult transition, or exploring clinical supervision, Dr. Mesa welcomes the opportunity to learn about your goals.
Services I Offer
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol, and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life.