Meet Carla

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”

Albert Camus

Who am I? 

Hi, my name is Carla (she/her). I was born in Germany, and raised both there and in the US. I deeply love and am eternally curious about animals, books, and nature, including human nature. I am a scorpio, an INFJ, and learned that I am neurodivergent later in life. I live life guided by the following values: authenticity, honesty, depth, courage, compassion, and growth. 

What brought me here? 

Growing up, I often felt “different” - like I was on the outside looking in, and there were so many rules of this game called society that just didn’t make sense to me. I eventually learned the hard way that if I wanted to be accepted by those around me, I had to learn to fit in. But on the inside I was constantly at war with myself, growing intimately familiar with the relentless storms of anxiety and trauma, and the seemingly bottomless lows of repeated burnout, depression, and chronic illness. So I came to this work through my own journey of (self) reclamation, finding comfort in understanding the WHO and WHY, and discovering meaning in the WHAT and the HOW.  

Who am I? Why am I the way that I am? What do I care about? What do I need to feel content?  How do I want to spend my time on this earth? How can I help make this world a better place?

These questions and themes are also what I enjoy exploring with my clients, whether that’s on a micro or meta level, or anywhere in between. If you’ve gotten this far and things are resonating, feel free to check out my offerings to learn about ways we can explore together. I look forward to getting to know you, and embarking on this journey of self-discovery and reclamation with you!

Carla Preiss, MA, LMHC

Carla works as a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Washington (LH61613672). Before earning her MA in Counseling Psychology from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA, she completed her BA in Ecopsychology and Equine-Guided Education & Therapy at Fairhaven College/Western Washington University. Over the years she has completed additional trainings in Advanced Trauma Treatment for CPTSD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and she is a neurodivergent-affirming clinician. 

In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, Carla also works as a relationship coach for humans and their horses. To learn more visit: