Therapists in Seattle, WA

If you are browsing through this website then you're most likely trying to find help with something in your life that you've been struggling with for for years. Maybe it's depression or anxiety and you need help trying to manage it, someone to hold it with you. Perhaps you have a hard time staying in a relationship for any length of time? Or maybe you're holding onto the secret of sexual abuse as a child or teen and have never told anyone. Sometimes things shatter and we don't know why, but it does. Life shatters us. I would love the privilege of walking with you. We can do it together. You don't have to do it alone anymore.

**CURRENTLY OFFERING TELETHERAPY SESSIONS in ARIZONA & WASHINGTON** Relationships can be challenging, particularly the ones that are most important to us. We want to feel known, connected and loved but often end up hurt and lonely, stuck in patterns which aren't working. Relational pain can show up as anxiety, fear, depression or grief among other things. I have extensive training in Psychodyamic Therapy. I have also learned directly from masters in the field of Couples Therapy: John & Julie Gottman and Phil Ringstrom to address these very issues.

Current Availability- I offer a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space to process and heal. For 25 years I have worked in a variety of settings with adults and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions and challenges. I specialize in supporting those navigating the effects of trauma and sexual abuse. Together, we will engage your life story with care and discover how you have been uniquely impacted by the events and people of your life. We will bring healing and wholeness to these spaces and build ways forward for you to thrive.

Welcome! For some, seeking help from a mental health professional can feel overwhelming, intimidating. Finding an understanding therapist who is best suited to your needs can be the first step towards a happier and more meaningful life. I work with adults and adolescents from a place of respect and compassion and believe that real transformation happens within the context of the therapeutic relationship. I value approaches that have been researched and proven to be effective, and tailor treatment to meet the needs of each individual. I have experience treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, sexual abuse, and gender dysphoria.

Therapy is a chance to awaken to ourselves. Each of us are complex human beings with hopes, desires and a unique presence in this world. Life, however, can have a way of getting in the way of who we truly are. My desire is to provide a space where together we can safely get to know all the parts of you, free these parts from past trauma, and allow you to live a fuller life. I work compassionately with people dealing with chronic people pleasing, religious trauma and faith deconstruction, childhood sexual abuse, anxiety, relationship issues, and identity exploration. I also work with couples desiring deeper connection.

Finding the right therapist can be a daunting process, yet it is one that really matters. It is understandable to feel out of sorts, isolated, or misunderstood when experiencing relationship, family, peer, academic, or workplace stress, during a life transition, or when recovering from trauma. You may also be struggling with a death, the end of a relationship, a relocation from another state or country, an adjustment to a health issue of yourself or a loved one, or being in an environment in which you feel you don't fit. It can be painful to experience these feelings and to try to find a way forward. You don't have to do this alone.

Marissa M. Grasmick, MA, LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, Washington. In her private practice she focuses on working with adults addressing trauma, sexual abuse/assault, anxiety, self worth, relationships/attachment, and organization. Marissa's Masters degrees in both Art Therapy and Counseling allow her to weave art-based interventions with her knowledge of working with trauma and the body. Marissa is highly skilled in her ability to integrate her experience with meditation and Zen philosophy to bridge the gap between such things as cutting-edge neuroscience and our need to create meaning from suffering.

I became a therapist because I am in awe of our human capacity for growth and transformation. Sometimes it seems impossible to imagine feeling better, or picturing our lives differently. Though distress can have a profound effect on our bodies and minds, growth and change are always possible. I begin with the understanding that we are all are whole and have the inherent ability to cope with life’s struggles, no matter how much pain we may be experiencing.

I have been counseling since 1981 and opened my private practice in 1988. I have expertise in working with individuals around their history of sexual victimization, people healing from trauma and LGBTQ life issues. I also specialize in working with couples whether poly, open, heterosexual and/or gay. Included within my expertise is the breadth of issues surrounding sexuality and attachment. I also specialize in helping people become aware of and channel their emotions in a healthy way. Moreover, people who are grappling with existential issues, developmental transitions or life changes find meaning in working with me as well.

I think life can be compared to a Hero’s Journey. While we may not have the same linear storyline with visible obstacles and hard earned victories, we are on a journey nonetheless. Therapy can help us explore the uncharted domains of our psyche, our overwhelming fears, our surprising heroic capabilities, and our joy. I use an integration of many therapeutic modalities in order to explore this including relational psychodynamic therapy, somatic/body psychotherapy, and attachment based therapy creating a more experiential and formative experience overall.

The greatest and most freeing gifts you can give yourself are self-exploration and compassion. Together, you and I can work collaboratively to further develop these qualities and foster your innate resilience. My goal is for you to feel safe, challenged, and empowered during our time together. The sheer fact that you are seeking support demonstrates an immense strength and courage. As a psychotherapist, I aim to create a non-judgmental, open-minded, and secure environment for clients to explore their feelings candidly and honestly. I utilize a variety of techniques and tailor treatment to the unique needs of the client.

I am a Christian therapist trained in the interpersonal/relational psychoanalytic theory. I've also engaged both object relational and cognitive behavioral theories through varied clinical experiences. I've mostly trained under Dan Allender. I am trained well to serve clients that desire to face issues of sexual abuse/trauma, narrative, and relational dynamics within relationships. I'm also able to help clients think through potential cultural issues that can also have impact on ones dealing with issues of abuse, story, and relationship.

Finding a "good fit" is essential when looking for a therapist. You should feel safe to be your authentic self without feeling judgment. I believe the client/therapist relationship is primary for healing and effective work. Within that relationship, I consider you the expert on your own life. While thoughtfully listening, I will also offer insights, invitations to try something new, and help you in building new skills and finding solutions. People tend to find me warm, accepting, and engaging.

We live in an overly stimulated world even while hiding from a virus, with constant choices regarding how we spend our time and energy and procure our needs. The amount of content we engage with daily has most people overloaded and unfocused. Which means, most of the time, we are not truly listened to or seen. For some, stepping into therapy is the first time they have experienced being heard and seen, wholly, genuinely, and comprehensively. The initial experience of being heard, can have a profound effect on one’s life. That is where we will begin. In a space with presence, non-judgmental empathic listening, and acceptance.

I work with individuals looking for support, to feel better. It may be that you feel a sense of overwhelm with the multiplicity of changes that you've experienced in the recent past, a life or relational transition, grief, dissatisfaction with your body, or the load of parenting. Or it may be that you want to simply be a better version of yourself. Drawing from modalities gathered through 28 years of practice, I provide effective, intuitive, body based therapy for individuals hoping to feel better, and live more whole and healthy lives.

Have you been searching for a therapist but haven't been able to find one with whom you feel a strong connection? Have you been feeling like your life lacks meaning or direction? Are you being overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, irritability, emptiness or negativity? Are you wondering who that person is staring back at you in the mirror every day? Finding a therapist can be a challenging task. You want to find someone with whom you feel safe and can trust.

I work with individual adults, and couples. I specialize in relationship issues, work stress, and spiritual or existential concerns. I provide therapy for a broad range of issues including: anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem, adjustment, and family issues. My approach is person centered, and client driven. This involves open conversation that is candid, and collaborative. I strive to provide a nonjudgmental, caring environment to support the goals you define.

You're taking the first step in such a beneficial journey, and I am honored to be a part of your process! I am a strengths-based therapist who believes in the power of building on what is already working well in your life to help you achieve your goals in therapy. I work from a client-centered approach, supporting you in the process of getting to know yourself better, and determining how you can shine in the environment that you're in. I am an expert in my field, and you are an expert in your own life; together we can build and achieve a plan that will help you create the lasting positive change you want to see for yourself!

Psychotherapy provides a safe place to create positive changes and a more meaningful and joyful life. Together we will explore patterns and past hurts that may be keeping you stuck in order to move forward to achieve balance and improve relationships in your life. I offer tools and strategies to help you better understand, communicate, and connect with those you love. I believe in the inner wisdom and strength within each of us, and the potential we all have for creating the life we want.