Cassie Bakula, Holistic CMHC Candidate
Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student
Cassie is a second-year graduate student at Salve Regina University, pursuing her Master’s degree in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Human Development and Family Sciences and Psychology from the University of Rhode Island.
Cassie’s passion for counseling began while volunteering at a child bereavement center, where she witnessed firsthand the profound impact of trauma and the importance of accessible, compassionate mental health support. This experience became a pivotal moment in shaping her career aspirations and deepened her commitment to the counseling field.
She brings a holistic and client-centered lens to her work, believing in meeting individuals where they are while honoring their unique experiences. Cassie enjoys working with individuals across the lifespan, with a growing interest in supporting adolescents and adults navigating trauma, identity development, and life transitions.
Cassie is especially interested in integrating somatic practices with expressive arts to support deeper communication, emotional processing, and self-expression. She draws from approaches such as mindfulness-based techniques, parts work, and creative interventions including drawing, painting, and symbolic art-making to help clients explore and understand their inner experiences.
Through her experience as a Direct Support Professional, Cassie has developed a strong foundation in working with diverse populations and understands the importance of looking beyond surface-level behaviors to uncover underlying needs. She has also worked with children as a preschool teacher and camp counselor, as well as with adults as a research assistant and hospital volunteer, allowing her to adapt her approach across different stages of life.
Cassie values the connection between nature and healing and enjoys incorporating grounding and nature-based elements into her work when appropriate. She strives to create a safe, supportive space where clients can explore their identities, build insight, and reconnect with themselves.
In her free time, Cassie enjoys creating shell jewelry, working with watercolor and oil pastels, and spending warm days immersed in nature while engaging in creative expression.
Therapy Styles: Talk Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Online Teletherapy, Brief Solution-Oriented Trauma Resolution, Biofeedback, Pokemotions
