Meet the Team

Mikaela Trussell, M.A.

About Me

Hi, my name is Mikaela Trussell! I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and am a Tennessee native. I received my PhD from Texas Tech University and completed my pre-doctoral internship at Utah State University. I have experience working in college counseling centers, community mental health, an internal medicine clinic as an in-house therapist, and in college athletic departments as a mental health and performance clinician. Outside of work, I am usually spending time with my husband and our pets, family, and friends. I enjoy doing anything active and love running, hiking, and snowboarding.

Counseling Style

In my work with clients, I see the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative and authentic space for growth that is central to the healing process. It is my hope to help clients feel seen, heard, and understood in our work together. I aim to support clients in increasing self-awareness, congruence, and self-compassion so they can create intentional and meaningful change. I generally take an integrated relational and emotion-focused approach and believe that clients are the expert on their own experience with an innate capability for growth. I see change occurring as clients understand themselves and others with a clearer sense of their patterns and emotions. My ultimate goal is to reduce distress while empowering clients’ authenticity and confidence in their relationships and the life they lead.

Client Age

Mikaela works with clients who are 12 years of age and older.

Mikaela is a postdoctoral fellow at Sunrise Counseling under the supervision of Dr. James Ramarushton, Ph.D.

Mikaela wil begin seeing clients at Sunrise Counseling in August 2026.

My areas of focus include:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Relationship concerns

  • Life transitions & adjustment

  • Sport psychology

  • Postpartum anxiety and depression 

  • Infertility Counseling

  • Crises of faith

  • LGBTQ+ issues

  • Couples Therapy

  • Neurodivergence (ADHD, Autism Spectrum)

  • Trauma

  • Identity development