Attachment-based Therapists in Danville, VT

Seeking therapy can be a difficult step to take and it is important to work with someone who feels like a good fit for you. Every therapist approaches the work differently. I approached therapy as a collaborative process by which I provide a safe space for clients to discuss the difficult things in life without judgment. I do not view myself as "the expert" but support clients in finding their own solutions. I will ask questions, explore patterns, teach skills, and challenge perspectives, but the goals you set and the path you take to achieving them are up to you.

Hi, I'm Marissa Manning, a Vermont clinician with a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. I have worked in the medical field for 13 years, and as a medical social worker for 5 of those years. I have a passion for supporting people throughout the lifespan including new mothers/fathers as they navigate changes that come with parenthood, as well as the geriatric community navigating aging, and at times loss of independence. With this I also enjoy working with caregivers discussing burnout and changes in roles in the family system.

I seek to help children, teens, and adults in need of positive support or whom may be struggling with behavior support questions, attention deficit, depression, anxiety, goal development, and family relational problems. I support personal goal coaching and provide a safe environment for exploration in a number of many other areas. I seek to bring elements of joy, comfort, and safety to the personal process of healing.

My practice is based on the premise that the relationship is key to emotional wellbeing. Life experiences and especially trauma can lead us to distort our interpretations of both our internal and external worlds. My counseling experience began in 2007 working with young people with extensive social, emotional, and behavioral needs. This inevitably raised my awareness of the importance of the family and related support systems. I spent much of my life as a professional musician and have been able to use music in my therapeutic work, supporting the development and maintenance of sharing, self-regulation, and effective communication.

Clients work with me to find the person hidden behind the protective walls they have built up to feel safe. They need, and want, to feel close to family and friends again but are scared it might not work out in their favor. Their goals are often to love themselves, speak up for themselves, and know they are capable no matter how hard life may be in this season. My clients want to let the past be the past and have their future go the way they've envisioned for so long.

I am a licensed psychotherapist (LICSW) located in St. Johnsbury, VT. I specialize in working with adolescent and adult patients who struggle with suicidal ideation, anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and major life transitions. I also have a lot of experience working with LGBT youth and adults. I use an integrative model of psychotherapy utilizing psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral techniques. I hold a master’s degree in social work from the University of New Hampshire.

Maybe you’re feeling alone and disconnected from the world, like you have to hide your true self. You’ve forgotten what it’s like to be happy, are in the middle of a major transition, or need to cope with something really painful but are not sure how. You oscillate between numbness and overwhelming emotions, it’s difficult to set and maintain boundaries, or your relationships are not what you want them to be. You know you want things to be different, and you are ready to take a step toward healing with the support of a therapist who will see, hear, and understand you as a whole person (not just a bunch of symptoms) without judgment.

In our journeys through life we experience both pleasurable and distressing events. When these events reach a level of trauma and are not processed or effectively integrated, individuals may rely on less adaptive strategies to manage discomfort, stress and change. These strategies can negatively influence the way we perceive and interact with the world and affect our intuitive nature and our intentionality for seeking meaning and experiencing joy. My practice is informed by a deeply attuned and heartfelt approach to my client’s emotional wellbeing. I enjoy working with children, adolescents, individuals, couples and families.

Welcome. All human beings need help at times, and I believe it takes real courage and discipline to proceed on the path of getting therapy. People choose to seek therapy out of strength, not weakness. You now have, or can develop, the skills and potential you need to improve your life and more fully be the person you want to be. Therapy can help you uncover your inherent goodness and capabilities. Therapy can help provide you with a safe, supportive environment in which you can be free to share your fears, hopes, and vulnerabilities and work through them by tapping the wisdom and energy they hold. Good luck in your journey!

You will receive a quicker response if you send an email rather than leaving a voicemail. I provide counseling for individuals and couples. We will focus on problem-solving through improved communication and conflict resolution as well as goal setting through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness skills and traditional talk therapy. I will tailor your treatment to your specific needs. I look forward to hearing from you!

Are you beginning to question your relationship with alcohol, drugs, or other unhealthy thoughts and behaviors? Or do you struggle with chronic relapse despite your best efforts to make changes? Has traditional substance use treatment not worked for you in the past? Often, habits and substances that once made us feel good or safe become problematic and difficult to control. Reducing or eliminating what no longer serves us maybe necessary to find balance and an improved quality of life. Making these changes and navigating recovery can be challenging and feel overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone.

I’m compassionate and want to get to know what is effecting you in your life. I’m curious about how your emotional distress is protected and how you attain and experience pleasure and balance in your life. Lots of our best attempts to get our needs met can become habitual and ineffective leading to more stress, tension, anxiety and depression. Making time to be curious and compassionate with yourself is a necessity for harmony and balance. I’ll be your guide on this journey.

I offer compassionate, down-to-earth counseling in which I strive to build a collaborative therapeutic relationship. Through gentle curiosity of one's internal experience (emotions, thoughts, and sensations) the client can have a more complete, accurate and honest present moment experience of themselves, creating more self awareness, self responsiveness, compassion, trust, and authentic expression. My therapeutic style tends toward interactive, while collaborating with the client to guide the process at a safe pace. I work from a strength-based model that views individuals as having an innate capacity toward growth and health.

Unresolved experiences or unmet needs can show up in our lives in many ways. From feelings of anxiety, depression, to interpersonal conflict, and even somatic symptoms, leading to imbalance and often incomplete coping that keeps us stuck. These all tell an intricate story about what needs attention, healing, and resolution. With curiosity and compassion, we can explore your experiences, thoughts, emotions, and patterns, to gain insight and clarity, creating a map toward resolution and goals that most align with you.

Would you like to have a deeper understanding of your child’s developmental needs, behaviors, and emotions? Would you like to feel a greater sense of heart-centeredness, attunement, and connection in your relationship with your infant or child? Would you like to feel more ease in your parenting journey? I specialize in early-childhood mental health and I am passionate about working with parents of infants and children to enhance the parent-child bond. Using attachment-based theories, I offer insights into age-appropriate expectations and support parents to create a nurturing relationship and a secure attachment with their child.

In a nutshell, my approach to psychotherapy is best described as a collaborative exploration of how our past experiences affect how we experience life in the present. Through better understanding of our own internal and external worlds, greater integration of emotional experience can occur, more positive meaning about ourselves, others, and life in general can be made, and authentic personal growth will result. Not only can distressing symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and the effects of trauma, be reduced, but more full, satisfying, and resilient lives can be achieved.

People come to therapy for many reasons, sometimes it’s an unexpected or painful transition, other times it might be conflict in important relationships. Often, people have tried to help themselves feel better, and are unsure of where to go next. Regardless of the reason you are seeking help, you are likely looking for relief from pain or suffering. I’m glad you’ve taken this important first step. My role is to offer you a warm and non-judgmental space to process life’s complexities and create meaningful change.