About
- Stress and anxiety
- CBT and DBT tools
- Parenting support
About Marissa
Marissa O'Connor is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New York with seven years of experience. She supports adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, relationship difficulties, and problems with sleep or eating. Her work also covers ADHD, compassion fatigue, grief, anger, and coping with life changes.
Marissa focuses on straightforward, practical steps. She listens to what matters most and helps people name the next manageable move. Sessions aim to address immediate problems like panic or sleep disruption while also building skills for longer-term challenges such as obsessive thoughts or caregiver stress.
Her approach combines client-centered conversations with structured tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. She also uses mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing to support behavior change and clearer goals. This mix is used to reduce distress, improve communication, and build routines that help daily functioning.
Marissa draws on seven years of practice to work through issues such as post-traumatic stress, domestic violence aftermath, and struggles with body image or food-related concerns. She helps people facing first responder stress, seasonal affective disorder, and those wrestling with guilt, shame, or forgiveness.
Practical problem-solving is part of sessions. People can expect clear steps, homework when useful, and direct discussion about what is working. The emphasis is on usable skills that make everyday life easier and on steady progress rather than quick fixes.
How sessions work
How Marissa uses proven approaches online
Marissa combines client-centered therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy in a way that keeps the focus on the person’s immediate concerns. Client-centered work means sessions start from the client’s priorities and personal goals. CBT adds clear tools for changing unhelpful thinking and behavior, useful for anxiety, panic, sleep problems, and eating-related concerns.She also uses dialectical behavior therapy skills to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal effectiveness. DBT techniques can help with intense anger, impulsivity, and coping after trauma. Together these approaches offer both listening and concrete practices to use between appointments.
Finding the right mix is collaborative. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, try approaches that fit those goals, and adjust methods over time based on what helps. That means work feels targeted rather than random, and practical steps are agreed on together.
The profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm the current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a weekday break, avoid travel time, or choose a shorter check-in when schedules are tight. Mention your timing and communication needs when you schedule so the format supports your day-to-day life.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of home and parenting issues does she address?
She supports adults dealing with parenting strain, communication problems at home, and caregiving stress. The profile lists parenting, family communication, and caregiver issues among her focus areas.
How would she work with anxiety or panic?
She uses cognitive behavioral therapy and DBT skills to identify triggers and teach coping strategies. Sessions typically include practical exercises and short assignments to practice between meetings.
What is her clinical background?
She has seven years of clinical experience and holds an LCSW credential. Her work has included people facing trauma, grief, and life transitions.
Where is she based and licensed?
She is licensed as an LCSW in New York. The profile location is New York and the credential is NY LCSW.
Can she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original biography did not list specific session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know whether sessions are video, phone, or in-person.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on the chosen subscription plan.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. That process initiates the first appointment.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.