- Stress and anxiety
- Life purpose support
- CBT and DBT skills
About Marissa
Marissa Dean is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with five years of clinical experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship concerns, coping with life changes, grief, sleep problems, mood conditions, and questions about life purpose. Marissa also addresses parenting concerns, self-esteem, and issues related to LGBT identity.
Her sessions aim to be collaborative and client-centered. She draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at family of origin patterns and attachment issues. She also uses somatic and mindfulness-based techniques to help people notice how emotions appear in the body and learn ways to regulate them.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are used when practical. That can mean working on thought patterns, building new coping skills, and practicing techniques for distress tolerance and emotion regulation. Marissa can support smoking and vaping cessation alongside other behavioral changes.
When trauma or past abuse is part of the story, she emphasizes pacing and safety while addressing dissociation or control issues. She also works with body image, forgiveness, guilt and shame, and the relational effects of chronic mood conditions like bipolar disorder.
Marissa has professional experience integrating Christian-based approaches when clients wish to include faith, prayer, or scripture in their work. She conducts sessions in English and does not accept international clients. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online
Marissa uses Client-Centered Therapy to foreground the client's goals and experience, which means conversations focus on what matters most to the person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to spot unhelpful thought patterns and practice different responses, helpful for anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are offered when building emotion regulation, distress tolerance, or interpersonal effectiveness is useful.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Marissa collaborates with each person to identify which methods fit their needs and goals. Together they adjust the plan as skills are learned and priorities shift, so the approach can change over time based on progress and preference.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, shorten travel, or allow a brief check-in when time is limited. Video helps with nonverbal cues, while audio-only sessions can reduce bandwidth and feel less demanding when people prefer not to be on camera. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT and DBT exercises, mindfulness practice, and somatic awareness work to an online setting to support everyday life needs.
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 kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, grief, sleep problems, depression and bipolar mood concerns, as well as life purpose and parenting matters.
How would she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
She uses client-centered conversations alongside CBT and DBT techniques and somatic awareness to help clarify patterns and practice new ways of responding.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of experience as a practicing therapist in California.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and practices in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions billed and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.