Marisa Schaff , LICSW

Marisa Schaff is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Substance Use Disorder Professional practicing in Washington. She began her career working as a substance abuse counselor and developed a deep appreciation for how substance use and broader mental health concerns intersect. She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver with a concentration in Family Systems and an Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate, completed additional coursework in military culture and treatment, and finished a two-year post-graduate training program in marriage and family therapy at the Denver Family Institute in February 2019.

Her professional background includes roles in settings from Drug Court to residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women. Across those roles she has helped people manage anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and abuse, addiction, relationship and family conflict, grief, ADHD, and challenges with self-esteem and intimacy. She also has experience addressing issues such as abandonment and attachment, codependency, communication problems, control issues, and first responder concerns.

Marisa practices from a strengths-based, person-centered stance and brings warmth and moments of humor when appropriate. She combines practical techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, solution-focused strategies, and narrative approaches, tailoring interventions to the best fit for each person’s goals. She views each client as the expert in their own life and aims to support learning, growth, and tangible progress. She currently offers evening and some weekend appointments.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors by teaching practical skills for managing symptoms and improving daily functioning. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related difficulties.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills. It can be especially helpful for intense emotions, relationship patterns, and co-occurring concerns like substance use.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused approach that supports processing distressing memories through structured protocols; it is used when past experiences continue to interfere with present-day life.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Marisa works with each person to explore their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques from different models to create a tailored plan alongside the client.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and maintain continuity of care. Licensed professionals can deliver many of the same therapeutic strategies remotely, allowing therapy to proceed effectively from different locations.