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 clinical work in 2010 as a substance abuse counselor for adolescents and discovered early on how closely substance use, mental health, and family dynamics can intersect. Over the years she has built a practice that integrates those connections with a focus on practical, strengths-based care.

Marisa earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver with a concentration in Family Systems and completed an Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate while there. During graduate study she took additional coursework in military culture and treatment, and she later completed 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 background includes roles in drug court and residential treatment programs serving pregnant and postpartum women, among other settings. She has experience addressing anxiety, depression, personality concerns, relationship and communication problems, family conflict, addiction, and trauma. Marisa draws from a person-centered, strength-oriented approach and blends techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused work, EMDR, and Narrative Therapy, tailoring interventions to each person’s goals.

Marisa aims to make therapy a mix of challenge and growth with room for humor and positivity when appropriate. She views clients as experts in their own lives and partners with them to overcome obstacles and move toward meaningful change. Evening and some weekend appointments are available to accommodate different schedules.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and many practical life challenges by teaching skills for managing thoughts and reactions.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. It can be especially useful for intense emotions, relationship struggles, and behaviors that interfere with daily life.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused approach that supports processing distressing memories and reducing their emotional impact. It can be appropriate when past events continue to affect current functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Marisa works collaboratively with clients and licensed professionals to determine which methods best match a person’s needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit varied schedules and access needs. These options make it easier to maintain consistent care, manage appointments around work or family commitments, and connect with a therapist from wherever the client is located within the therapist's service area.