PhD, MSEd, LPC
Psychotherapist
School Counselor Professor Anxiety, Depression & Relationship Specialist [email protected] (267) 323-4420 |
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Licensure
Licensed Professional Counselor, PA #PC017061
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Certification
Certified Elementary and Secondary School Counselor, PA
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Education
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PhD (2024) Educational Psychology, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dissertation: "School Refusal, Executive Function, Anxiety, and Self Confidence in Adolescents" |
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Masters of Science in Education (2016) School and Mental Health Counseling
Graduate School of Education; University of Pennsylvania, PA |
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Bachelor of Science in Education (2014) Middle & Secondary
Saint Joseph's University, PA |
Specialty Areas
Anxiety, Depression, Executive Functioning Skills, Relationships, Friendships, School Refusal, Stress Management, Social Anxiety, Coping Strategies, Identity, Body Image, Life Transitions, Grief and Loss, Communication, Motivation, College and Career Planning.
Therapy Style
I work from a cognitive behavioral framework and problem solving approach. I strongly believe in building a rapport with my clients through a therapeutic relationship which fosters openness and acceptance. I take a direct approach in helping my clients recognize their strengths and work towards growth.
Therapeutic Orientation
Cognitive Behavior Therapy | Person Centered Therapy | Strengths Based | Solution Focused Brief Therapy | Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Experience and Trainings
I am an Adjunct Faculty Member at UPenn's counseling program where I teach Practicum to 1st year graduate students and a Graduate Seminar Leader where I provide clinical supervision to counseling students in training.
I have been a High School Counselor at Garnet Valley High School for over 8 years. I completed my school counseling training at Harriton High School in Lower Merion and Shawmont Elementary School in Roxborough, Philadelphia.
For six years I facilitated groups for a non-profit organization called SpeakUp, where I help adolescents and the adults in their lives communicate effectively on controversial topics such as: drugs and alcohol, stress and mental health, sex and relationships, pressure and expectations, race, diversity and inclusion, social media and more.
I have completed several of Penn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses. I am also an American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Specialist in the areas of Anxiety Management, Mental Health, Special Education, Grief Counseling and College Admissions Counseling.
Prior to entering the field of therapy, I was a Certified School Teacher in PA & NJ. In college I worked for the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support where I used Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques to work with students on the Autism Spectrum.
I have been a High School Counselor at Garnet Valley High School for over 8 years. I completed my school counseling training at Harriton High School in Lower Merion and Shawmont Elementary School in Roxborough, Philadelphia.
For six years I facilitated groups for a non-profit organization called SpeakUp, where I help adolescents and the adults in their lives communicate effectively on controversial topics such as: drugs and alcohol, stress and mental health, sex and relationships, pressure and expectations, race, diversity and inclusion, social media and more.
I have completed several of Penn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses. I am also an American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Specialist in the areas of Anxiety Management, Mental Health, Special Education, Grief Counseling and College Admissions Counseling.
Prior to entering the field of therapy, I was a Certified School Teacher in PA & NJ. In college I worked for the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support where I used Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques to work with students on the Autism Spectrum.
About Marissa
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What Brought Me To This Profession
I have known that I wanted to be in a helping profession since I was young. I had an amazing counselor in High School who I found myself going to regularly to get help for my friends. I found myself being the person that all of my friends came to talk to and the person that my friends asked for advice. When I needed support to help them, I would reach out to my counselor. Seeing how much students trusted him and turned to him made me want to one day be that person for others. I went to college for education with the goal of going to graduate school for counseling, and I had the opportunity to do so. I have loved working with students in the school setting around mental health and extending that to working with college and graduate students in a therapeutic setting. |
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Outside of Therapy
Outside of counseling, I enjoy traveling to different countries and learning about different parts of the world through food, music, and cultural experiences. During college I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have a therapy dog (Mozzarella) who I adore and enjoy taking her on walks and having her meet new people. Mozzarella was trained as a therapy dog who works with students to bring comfort during stressful times. I also love going to concerts, comedy shows, and theater. I have a love for dance, especially Latin dancing. I regularly find myself trying new recipes and enjoy both cooking and baking. |
Languages
I have grown up around Italian and Spanish and can understand but not speak fluently.
I have grown up around Italian and Spanish and can understand but not speak fluently.