Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Glenside, PA

I don’t believe in passively nodding while you talk about your most important challenges. I’m an active, compassionate therapist who engages with and supports you so that you can start living a more satisfying life right now. Difficult thoughts and feelings will become easier to manage and no longer control your life. You’ll grow in your understanding of yourself—why you do what you do, what you need and value, and the inner resources you have to create new possibilities. Whether your challenge is anxiety/depression, life changes, relationships, or self esteem, we’ll work together to start building the life you want.

Elizabeth specializes in helping people with symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, OCD, panic, C/PTSD and DID due to childhood and adult traumatic experiences of bullying, neglect and abuse by a trusted or inescapable person, (cults), incest, sexual and physical abuses and trauma, verbal, mental, cognitive and emotional abuses, financial control, food control, deceit, deception and gaslighting, professional obstruction, and chronic micro aggressions of public humiliations, bullying and 'teasing'.

You are more than the painful experiences you have endured. You may feel triggered in everyday situations or feel alone and isolated. You may struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, or guilt. However, you have a sense of your life purpose — and long to live your life more authentically. You are ready for relief. You're ready to love who you truly are and face your future with a sense of hope. In our work together, you will gain a deeper respect for what makes you unique. Through connecting with your core, authentic self, you can experience greater ease, freedom, and self-acceptance.

Are you struggling with depression, stress, and daily life? Are you feeling overcommitted taking care of others at work or at home, and wonder when you'll be able to prioritize yourself? Do you have trouble saying "No?" Is your current relationship satisfying? Do you wish you and your partner could communicate more effectively? On the career front, would you like to feel more confident in negotiating job offers and/or raises and promotions? Are you disenchanted with your current career and interested in exploring other options? These and other areas are ideal issues to bring to therapy!

My goal is to support you and honor your experience by listening to what you need from a healing space. I am gender-affirming, LGBTQ+ affirming, and recognize the significance of race/culture. I have extensive clinical experience and training working with individuals struggling with identity, relational problems, family of origin issues, trauma, self-esteem, depression, anxiety and stress management. I work with you to help you identify patterns that no longer serve you and empower you to choose whether you shift those patterns as you become aware.

You're on a journey of healing and you yearn for a life marked by authenticity and fulfillment. You may be grappling with the aftermath of past hurts, seeking to mend a fragmented sense of your self, or striving for inner peace and self-compassion. Maybe you feel called to explore the depths of your soul, to discover the wholeness that lies within, and to live a life that's true to your deepest self. Whether you are facing daily stress, relationship issues, exploring identity, or processing the repercussions of traumatic experiences, I am here to support you on this path of self-discovery and healing.

Thank you for visiting my profile, my name is Marissa and I am passionate about helping and encouraging others. Therapy provides a safe, nonjudgmental, unconditionally supportive environment where people can unburden, increase self-understanding and collaboratively heal and grow in line with their personal needs. Whether it is a past hurt, present problem or decision(s) that must be made, I can provide you with a safe and compassionate space combined with skilled expertise in order to help you not only understand yourself better, but also figure out the path that is right for you.

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change" is the focus of my treatment. I want to help you gain a new perspective of your struggle that allows you to be more hopeful about the solution. Whether the problem includes substance abuse, problem gambling, depression, anxiety, relationship conflict or some other problem, I am committed to the process of change through an empowering and collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Imagine a space where you can express yourself in many different forms as you feel most comfortable; where you can try out new ways of being in your life and in your relationships. I strive to provide a space like this; where your thoughts, feelings and most tender parts can be revealed, nurtured, heard and seen. I enjoy the limitless diversity of brain chemistries, ethnicities, sexualities and gender expressions that exist among us. I also appreciate the diversity of life experience that each of us holds, and believe that there is wisdom and expertise within each of us to enable healing, but we don't always know how to access it.

The counseling relationship thrives when you are able to be open, knowing that your vulnerable stories will be received with empathy and acceptance. Whatever struggles you feel now or whatever barrier is impeding your goals, whether it be depression, anxiety, addiction, or unresolved trauma, the safety of a comfortable counseling relationship is the first step to begin healing. I believe everyone has the ability to develop resilience and function in this world as their true self, despite any pain or fear previously blocking your path. My goal is to help you live confidently as your true self, even if that means embracing our quirks.

I believe everyone holds the key to access their most genuine, authentic self. Navigating through this thing called life can be complicated and challenging. Working together, I aim to provide a safe space to explore your inner strengths and capture internal resources. Through my experience working with anger, anxiety, and depression, I've learned that the strongest factor in therapy is the collaborative relationship. Together, we can address the issues you identify as problematic in your life. I promise to provide a therapeutic space that allows you to reclaim your strengths and propel you towards your self chosen path.