- Stress and anxiety
- LGBTQ issues
- Trauma care
About Marissa
Marissa Alvarez is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, and intimacy-related concerns. Marissa also supports clients navigating ADHD and a range of identity and body-related issues. They present a calm, direct approach aimed at making therapy feel manageable on hard days.
Marissa works with adults and centers discussions on how past experiences show up now. Sessions focus on building coping skills and practical ways to reduce distress. Conversations tend to be paced to match what a client can handle in the moment, with attention to identity and life context.
Their background includes five years of practice in Michigan as an LMSW. That experience informs a way of working that blends attention to trauma with approaches that look at inner parts and thought patterns. Marissa uses intersectional feminist and anti-racist perspectives to shape conversations and decisions about care.
In sessions Marissa helps clients name patterns, try new ways of responding, and practice skills between meetings. They aim to make therapy useful and understandable, not full of jargon. People can expect straightforward feedback and collaborative goal-setting.
To start, prospective clients complete a short questionnaire and schedule according to the therapist's availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time, and Marissa conducts work in English from Michigan.
Approaches that guide online work and practical benefits
Marissa often draws on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps people understand how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact after difficult experiences and offers concrete skills to manage flashbacks, anxiety, and avoidance. They also incorporate Internal Family Systems ideas, which help people notice different parts of themselves and learn kinder ways to respond to inner conflict and shame.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Marissa will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past, and then shape a plan together. Sessions may blend techniques as needs change so the work stays practical and focused on the client’s priorities.
Confirm the available session options before booking, since specific formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and offer ways to continue work when daily demands make in-person visits difficult. A therapist and client can decide together how to structure session length and frequency to match real-world schedules.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does this therapist address?
Marissa supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related concerns, and ADHD. They also focus on identity and body issues such as gender dysphoria, body image, and concerns related to sexual diversity.
How would you describe their way of working in sessions?
Their style is direct and paced to fit what a person can handle. Sessions emphasize building coping skills, naming patterns, and trying practical strategies between meetings.
How much clinical experience do they have?
Marissa has five years of clinical experience working in Michigan as an LMSW. That time includes work with trauma-related concerns and identity-focused issues.
What credential does this therapist hold and where are they based?
They hold an LMSW, which stands for licensed master social worker, and they practice in Michigan.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Do they work with clients outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what does it cost?
Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time and cost varies by location and therapist availability.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.