Registered Veterinary Technician
"I’m a partner in the care of your pet, all of us here are. At the end of the day, it’s a team effort to create a fulfilling experience and find what’s right for your pet.” Karissa has always valued the animals in her life, identifying her grandparents as “Grandma cat” and “Grandma dog” at a very young age instead of by their names. As she grew up, Karissa became passionate about volunteer work to help the animals in her area. She graduated from Moorpark College in California in 2012 with an associate’s degree in Exercise Science and went on to continue her passions by working as a dog groomer for two years. While there, she was guided into wildlife volunteering and intern work.
After her internship, she continued to volunteer and used these skills to move into veterinary assistant roles, learning to support our furry friends on the level of the entire pet. “When we talk about humans, we’re just starting to understand how emotions and energy affect us over time. For me, it’s second nature that it’s brought into the animal world as well,” Karissa says. Her work in energy medicine changed her approach to everything she does. “I feel like I form closer and healthier relationships with animals and their people.” Her days at Harmony consist of seeing patients with the doctor and co-creating a connection with humans and animals alike. She finds it important to ensure that everyone is well taken care of, continuing to foster the open ambiance which our clinic prides itself on. Karissa says, “It’s so important to make people happy. If the staff is happy, then we can provide better care and be better stewards of the animals that come through here.”
Karissa has three pets: River is a chihuahua and leader of the home, Loki is an Aussie Shepherd mix with the energy to match, and Ash is a three-legged miniature pinscher, the cuddle bug of the family. Outside of being with her furry friends, Karissa loves hiking, foraging, and connecting with the land around her. She also owns a hypnosis practice, which you can find here: www.roots-within.com