Therapist profile
Marissa Alvarez, LMSW
Michigan
LMSW - Anxiety and Relationship Patterns
Continue with MarissaWhere Marissa stands
- Credentials
- LMSW
- License
- LMSW, Michigan / 6801121506
- NPI
- 1619789831
- Experience
- 5 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Michigan
About
- Internal Family Systems
- Trauma-Focused CBT
- Identity aware practice
About Marissa
Marissa Alvarez is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) practicing in Michigan with five years of experience. They work with adults on stress, anxiety, LGBTQ concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and ADHD, and they list codependency among their focus areas.
Marissa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and draws on approaches such as Internal Family Systems and Trauma-Focused CBT. Sessions focus on identifying patterns that cause distress, building practical coping skills, and looking at how past experiences affect daily life. The tone in sessions is direct and collaborative, with attention to how identities and systems shape experience.
They bring an intersectional feminist and anti-racist perspective to clinical work. That informs how they understand relationships, power, and identity in therapy. Marissa also notes experience supporting people who identify as LGBTQ+ and those living with chronic illness or disability.
In practical terms, Marissa helps people notice unhelpful patterns like people-pleasing or losing boundaries, and then practices concrete alternative responses in session. They combine short-term strategies for symptom relief with longer-term work on attachment and relational patterns.
Before booking, clients are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Payment is handled through a cancellable subscription model that varies by location.
How sessions work
How evidence-based approaches translate to online work
Marissa commonly uses Internal Family Systems and Trauma-Focused CBT in clinical work. Internal Family Systems helps people map different parts of themselves and learn how those parts interact, which can be useful for people who feel pulled between self-sacrifice and self-protection. Trauma-Focused CBT offers structured tools to process traumatic memories and reduce their hold on everyday life, and it can help with anxiety and intrusive thoughts.Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with each person about symptoms, goals, and what feels manageable. Together they decide which techniques to try first and adjust the plan as progress or setbacks appear.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online therapy helps fit work or care routines into their weeks, makes it easier to attend shorter check-ins, and reduces travel time. Online work also lets the therapist and client try specific practical exercises, homework, and focused skill practice between sessions to support boundary setting and reducing people-pleasing habits.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Marissa address?
They work with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, LGBTQ issues, intimacy-related concerns, ADHD, and list codependency among focus areas.
What style of therapy should I expect?
The approach is practical and collaborative, using evidence-based techniques to build coping skills and change unhelpful patterns.
How much experience does the clinician have?
Marissa has five years of clinical experience as an LMSW in Michigan.
What are the credential and location details?
They hold an LMSW credential and practice in Michigan.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with this therapist?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for?
Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time and the cost varies with location.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.