- Client-centered care
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Faith-integrated option
About Marissa
Marissa Dean is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who focuses on concerns parents often notice first: stress, anxiety, sleep problems, parenting strain, and relationship challenges. She also helps with depression, bipolar symptoms, addiction and substance concerns, grief, trauma and abuse, and LGBT issues. Her approach is practical and down-to-earth, aimed at helping people manage what feels overwhelming now.
Marissa uses a blend of methods to match each person's needs. Sessions are client-centered and collaborative, so the person sets goals and pace. She draws on cognitive behavioral tools to tackle unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and dialectical strategies to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills.
Her background includes five years of clinical work and a focus on how early attachments and family of origin shape present behavior. She pays attention to body experiences as well as emotions, so somatic cues are part of the conversation when they matter. This helps with issues like dissociation, control struggles, and chronic stress.
When faith is important to a client, Marissa can bring Christian-based counseling into sessions, including prayer and scripture if the client wants that. She tailors this to each person's comfort and beliefs, keeping the work aligned with their goals.
People who choose Marissa can expect a calm, respectful space to talk through difficult moments, develop clearer communication, and build routines for self-care and recovery. She emphasizes practical steps and steady progress over time.
How key approaches guide online work
Client-centered therapy puts the client's priorities first and focuses the work on what matters most to them. It’s about listening carefully, checking in about goals, and adjusting the plan as needed to help people make steady changes.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. It uses practical exercises and homework to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and change unhelpful habits like smoking or vaping.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. Those skills are useful when strong emotions, impulsive actions, or relationship strain get in the way of daily life.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and personal preferences. That may mean mixing techniques from different approaches as progress unfolds.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives by removing commute time and allowing shorter check-ins when needed. Session formats are not listed here, so confirm the current options before booking. Licensed professionals can use online visits to teach skills, review worksheets, and plan behavioral experiments that fit into everyday routines without promising a specific format.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist often help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, addictions, grief, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, parenting struggles, relationship difficulties, and LGBT concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative, focusing on practical steps and skill building while also attending to emotions and bodily experience.
What is her professional background?
She has five years of clinical experience and practices as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, working with issues rooted in attachment and family of origin.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She holds the LMFT credential and is based in California.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.