Marissa is a warm and compassionate Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who is passionate about helping children, teens, and young adults feel more comfortable, confident, and connected to themselves. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sacred Heart University. Marissa believes that the therapeutic relationship is at the heart of meaningful healing. For her, building genuine rapport, trust, and connection is the foundation that allows clients to feel safe enough to explore, grow, and heal.

Marissa creates a welcoming, nonjudgmental space where clients can show up as they are without feeling pressured to have everything figured out. She believes clients are the experts on themselves and strives to meet each person exactly where they are. By allowing clients to take the lead in their own journey, Marissa helps them feel empowered to explore their emotions, discover their strengths, and make meaningful changes at their own pace.

Marissa works with children, teens, and young adults who are navigating anxiety, OCD, low self-esteem, mood disorders, and the many challenges that can come with growing and discovering who you are. She is passionate about supporting young people through life’s ups and downs while helping them build a stronger sense of self, develop confidence, and feel more connected to their emotions and experiences.

In her clinical work, Marissa takes a compassionate and individualized approach, incorporating creative and unconventional methods when appropriate to help clients express themselves and explore their emotions in ways that feel natural and meaningful. This may include creative expression, play-based activities, art, or other experiential techniques. She believes therapy does not have to look the same for everyone and adapts her approach to each client’s personality, needs, and goals.

Marissa’s goal is to create a therapeutic space where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and accepted. She works collaboratively with clients to develop healthy coping strategies, build resilience, strengthen self-confidence, and better understand their emotions. She believes that clients do not have to navigate life’s challenges alone and that therapy can be a place to slow down, feel understood, discover who you are, and grow into the person you want to become.

Outside of her clinical work, Marissa also serves as MJA’s Marketing & Community Outreach Assistant, where she supports social media, community outreach, administrative systems, and day-to-day operations. This role allows her to combine her passion for mental health with her love of creativity, connection, and community.