Carrissa Williams, PhD
Welcome! I am the CEO & Founder of Small Victories Wellness Services and a Licensed Psychologist. I founded Small Victories with a simple belief: mental health care should be high quality, accessible, affirming, and delivered by clinicians who are genuinely supported in their work.
Originally from the Kansas City area, I earned my doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!). As a first-generation college student, I have always been passionate about understanding the systems, relationships, and experiences that shape people's lives. My dissertation research explored feelings of marginalization among first-generation college students, and themes of belonging, equity, and inclusion continue to influence my work today.
Over the course of my career, I have worked in college counseling centers, community mental health, a VA hospital, and substance use treatment settings. These experiences helped shape my belief that quality mental health care should not be reserved for a select few. Since founding Small Victories Wellness in 2017, the practice has grown into one of Connecticut's largest insurance-based group mental health practices, serving thousands of clients and employing a diverse team of clinicians committed to affirming and compassionate, high-quality care.
Today, my work focuses primarily on leadership, organizational development, and advancing the mission of Small Victories. I am passionate about building systems that support both clients and clinicians, developing emerging leaders, and creating a culture rooted in courage, inclusion, community, excellence, and burnout prevention. I believe that when we invest in the well-being of our team, we create better outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
Advocacy remains an important part of both my professional and personal identity. I care deeply about reducing barriers to mental health care, supporting social justice initiatives, and creating spaces where people from all backgrounds feel respected, valued, and empowered to show up as their full selves.
While I no longer take on new therapy clients, I remain deeply connected to the field as a Psychologist, entrepreneur, mentor, and advocate. I am incredibly proud of the community we have built at Small Victories and grateful for the opportunity to help lead an organization dedicated to supporting healing, growth, and meaningful change.
