I am a licensed clinical social worker with over ten years of experience working in trauma, dual diagnosis, and addiction. I like to take a humanistic, client-centered approach that explores conceptualizing your experience, considering behaviors or maladaptive coping mechanisms (such as substance use, self-harming, emotional dysregulation, etc.) to be learned skills of survival and not who the person is. I maintain the belief that the client is trying their best, no matter how they show up to session. I invite your messy, your discomfort, and the dark pieces that you work to hide, in addition to your successes, joy, and excitement. I believe that we all have darkness and light and it is important to be compassionate to both of those sides. My experience is wide in various diagnoses, including PTSD, complicated grief and loss, gender identity, anxiety, depression, ADD/ADHD, suicidality, autism, addictions, personality disorders, OCD, as well as relationship issues, transition/change, and meaning and purpose. I like to consider the different layers of each person and recognize that we are complicated creatures. Therefore, I like to adapt my approach based on what you need and not recite a list of cliched coping skills. You know the ones…”have you tried deep breathing?” My primary focus is to meet you where you are and support you in working towards your goals that you identify for yourself. I am here as your advocate, your support. I'm like the inflatable gutter bumpers at the bowling alley. I'm not going to do the work for you, but I will help you and believe in your ability to get yourself where you need and want to be.
I love my work, and also find passion in writing (I hold a Master's of Fine Arts in creative writing), and am an avid equestrian. In my spare time, I can be found with the only man I will ever tattoo on my body—my horse, Henry.
I really look forward to working with you—you are doing an amazing first step by searching for a therapist that matches your needs. I hope that you give yourself MAJOR CREDIT for the hard work you are currently doing as you take this necessary step in your healing process.
Additional areas of focus: Abandonment, Antisocial personality, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant personality, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Dissociation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Intellectual disability, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Mood disorders, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Personality disorders, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Sexual assault and abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic brain injury, Trichotillomania, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused Therapy
UT LCSW 7697469-3501
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Anna Marasco. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Even though I’ve only had one session with Anna, I felt she was very attentive, listened carefully, and provided as much validation and encouragement as she could. I’m looking forward to working with her moving forward, and appreciate her desire to help anyway she can.
Written on Dec 24, 2021 after therapy with Anna for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
She's very prompt and cares how I feel
Written on Dec 01, 2021 after therapy with Anna for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, depression, self esteem, relationship issues, family conflicts, and coping with life changes
She is very interested in needs and wants out of my therapy sessions
Written on Nov 22, 2021 after therapy with Anna for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes
Anna is great! Very helpful and insightful as a therapist
Written on Oct 27, 2021 after therapy with Anna for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and career difficulties