Marissa O'Connor , LCSW

Marissa O'Connor is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, and depression. She also supports those facing relationship strain, parenting stress, body image concerns, and issues with sleep or eating. Her approach aims to make everyday challenges feel more manageable. Marissa uses a strengths-based outlook to help people notice what already works in their lives. She focuses on practical steps clients can try between sessions. Sessions are tailored to each person, with attention to goals like improved mood, calmer reactions, or clearer decision making. Her background includes seven years of clinical practice in New York as an LCSW, which she blends with a direct, empathetic style. She draws on several well-known therapeutic methods to match the needs of the person in front of her. The result is a mix of listening, skill teaching, and problem-solving. Marissa places special emphasis on supporting people who feel overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities, first responder stress, trauma or post-traumatic reactions, and the shame or guilt that can follow painful events. She also works with those managing attention differences and impulsivity. People who prefer practical, goal-oriented sessions that still leave room for emotion often find her style helpful. She encourages small, manageable changes and checks in on what’s working. That makes therapy feel like a step-by-step project rather than a vague process.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person’s experience. It emphasizes empathy and helping people find their own solutions, which can be very effective in video or phone conversations for exploring feelings and goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It teaches practical skills to challenge unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors, useful for anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating issues through exercises and homework between sessions.

Finding the best approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust as needed. That collaborative process helps match techniques to what actually helps the person feel better.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people juggling work, caregiving, or irregular schedules. Video calls allow more personal interaction; phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging make it possible to check in between appointments or to communicate without being on camera. These options let clients fit therapy into busy lives while using the same therapeutic methods they would in an office setting.