Marisa Schaff , LICSW

Marisa Schaff is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in Washington. She brings a decade of experience working with people facing addiction, trauma, relationship struggles, mood concerns, and complex family dynamics. Her career began in 2010 as a substance abuse counselor for adolescents, where she observed how substance use and mental health often overlap and shaped her interest in integrated care.

She completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Denver with a concentration in Family Systems and earned an Animal-Assisted Social Work certificate. While at Denver she also took coursework in military culture and treatment, and during graduate school she entered a two-year post-graduate training program at the Denver Family Institute focused on marriage and family therapy, graduating from that program in February 2019.

Her clinical experience spans settings from drug court to residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, and she has worked with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, trauma and abuse, addictions, intimacy and relationship issues, grief, and coping with life changes. Marisa’s approach is strength-based and person-centered, with interjections of humor and positivity when appropriate. She integrates techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, mindfulness, solution-focused methods, and narrative therapy, tailoring interventions to fit each person’s goals. Marisa believes clients are the experts in their own lives and works collaboratively to support growth and change. She currently offers evening and some weekend appointments.

Evidence-Based Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors into more constructive patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes by teaching practical skills for managing daily challenges.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. DBT can be helpful for managing intense emotions, improving communication in relationships, and building skills to navigate conflict and strong reactions.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) supports processing traumatic memories and reducing the emotional charge around painful experiences. It is commonly used for trauma and abuse, and can be integrated with other therapeutic work to support recovery.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Marisa works with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and tailors techniques accordingly, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexibility to meet people where they are through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access licensed professionals from home or another convenient location.