M​a​r​i​s​s​a Alvarez

Marissa Alvarez is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) who helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and intimacy-related concerns. They also support people navigating ADHD, LGBT issues, body image and eating and food-related struggles. The tone is compassionate and direct for someone who feels overwhelmed by daily life.

Marissa favors clear, practical work in sessions. They emphasize building coping skills and unpacking how past experiences affect current behavior. Sessions are collaborative and paced to match each person's needs.

With five years of clinical experience, Marissa draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques and frameworks that consider social context. They describe using intersectional feminist and anti-racist perspectives to inform how they understand identity and power in therapy.

Marissa has a particular interest in supporting people who identify as LGBTQ+ and those living with chronic illness or disability. In practice this means attending to how health, access, and identity shape emotional life and relationships.

Clients can expect a focus on practical tools alongside space to explore difficult feelings. The therapist aims to help people meet their goals and develop ways to heal and grow over time.

How evidence-based approaches shape online work

Marissa uses a few well-established approaches to guide sessions. One is Trauma-Focused CBT, which breaks down painful memories into manageable pieces and teaches concrete skills to reduce distress. It can help with anxiety, trauma reactions, and related difficulties. Another influence is Internal Family Systems, which looks at different parts of a person’s internal experience and helps those parts communicate more gently. That model can be useful for understanding shame, self-criticism, and conflicting feelings.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Marissa works together with each person to decide which techniques fit their needs and goals. They check in regularly and adjust the plan as progress or new concerns emerge.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm session formats before booking since specific formats aren’t listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let someone choose whether to be on camera or keep audio-only when that helps them be more comfortable. Ask about the available session options when you sign up so you can pick what fits your routine.