I am a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with specialization in addictions (substance use and sexual disorders), trauma and emotional conditions, LGBTQ concerns, depression, anxiety, relationship and parenting concerns, vocational challenges, legal issues, and serious mental health illnesses. Since I started in the field in 1998, I have always known I would be a counselor. Growing up, it came naturally to me to be compassionate, empathetic, and to listen with a non-judgmental stance. Over the past 20 years, I have helped hundreds of individuals improve their lifestyles through my work and passion for helping.
What I love the most about working as a therapist is being apart of those quantum change insights; the ones that involve a shift in perception and the realization of a new life. It can be as simple as looking at ones self in a positive light, realizing they are capable of change. Recovery is about self-discovery, rediscovering the parts that you believe have become disconnected or lost. Authentic recovery allows you to achieve peace and satisfaction with your life. This starts with positive connections.
I am here to guide you in the path of healing the root cause of your stress. With positive and loving connection, I will honor your path towards fulfillment.
Currently as of 5/14/2020, I am no longer taking new clients due to a full schedule.
Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Abandonment, Attachment issues, BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture, Codependency, Communication problems, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dissociation, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Emptiness, Fertility issues, Gender dysphoria, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Mood disorders, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
IL LCSW 149020406
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Marissa Harris. 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.
I wouldn’t be alive without her. She makes me feel like someone genuinely cares and she’s the only psychological professional I am not afraid to be 100% open with. I feel so very respected and safe. She’s a wonderful person and I respect her like I do my friends.
Written on Feb 26, 2022 after therapy with Marissa for 3 years and 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and bipolar
Melissa has been with me for, what, 6 months? I trust her implicitly and explicitly in exploring a wide range of thoughts and situations. She’s been a great person to know and rely on for my personal issues and I recommend her highly to anyone.
Written on May 17, 2019 after therapy with Marissa for 8 months
Marissa has been a wonderful counselor. I've been going through a lot of transitions with my relationship, my childhood traumas, and running my business and she's helped me to come up with ways to deal with all of those issues. I feel grateful for her expertise. She has the greatest disposition as well. So friendly and understanding and she reminds me of the good traits that I often neglect to see. I am very grateful that I've been paired with her. She's the best!
Written on Jan 20, 2019 after therapy with Marissa for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and bipolar disorder