Marisa Schaff , LICSW

Marisa Schaff is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Substance Use Disorder Professional licensed in Washington. The LICSW credential indicates a master-level social worker who is authorized to provide independent clinical therapy. She began her clinical journey in 2010 as a substance abuse counselor working with adolescents, and that early experience revealed how often substance use and mental health concerns overlap.

She earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver with a concentration in Family Systems and completed an Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate. While at Denver, she also completed three psychology courses focused on military culture and treatment. During her second year of graduate study she began a two-year post-graduate training program at the Denver Family Institute in marriage and family therapy, graduating from that program in February 2019.

Her background spans settings from Drug Court to residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women. She has worked with a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, trauma and abuse, relationship and family conflict, communication challenges, and personality disorders. Marisa uses a strength-based, person-centered style with appropriate interjections of humor and optimism to balance the work of healing and growth. She blends techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Solution-Focused, and Narrative Therapy, tailoring her approach to fit each client’s goals. She believes people are the experts in their own lives and aims to support clients in overcoming obstacles and moving toward meaningful change. She currently offers evening and some weekend appointments.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Marisa Schaff draws on several evidence-informed approaches to guide online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, making it useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships, which can be especially helpful when intense emotions or patterns of conflict are present. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) offers a structured method for processing traumatic memories and reducing the emotional impact of past events.

Choosing the right method is part of the therapeutic process, and Marisa approaches that choice collaboratively. She works with each person to explore needs, goals, and preferences, then tailors techniques so the approach fits the individual rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model. Licensed professionals will often combine elements from different approaches to meet specific goals.

Online therapy with Marisa can take place by video call, phone session, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and life demands. These options make it easier to maintain consistency, access care from home or work, and integrate therapy into daily life while still working toward meaningful progress.