Marisa Schaff

Hi! My name is Marisa, I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Substance Use Disorder Professional in the State of Washington. I started working as a Substance Abuse Counselor in 2010 with Adolescents and discovered that mental health often intersected. I decided to attend graduate school at the University of Denver for my Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Family Systems and the Animal-Assisted Social Work Certificate. While at DU I completed three classes in the Psychology Department focused on Military culture and treatment. While in my second year of graduate school, I started a two year Post- Graduate Program at the Denver Family Institute for training and education for Marriage and Family Therapy. I graduated from that program in February 2019.

I have worked in a wide array of jobs from Drug Court to Pregnant and Postpartum Women in residential treatment. I have worked with wide range of concerns including, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, relationship issues, communication, family conflict, addiction and trauma.

My counseling style is strength based with interjections of humor and fun when appropriate. I often hear counseling described as being painful but I believe that the process should also consist of positivity, learning and growth. My approach is person-centered and combines techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused, EMDR and Narrative Therapy. I will tailor my approach based on best fit for your goals.

I believe that you are the expert in your life and I am here to assist you in any way possible to overcome challenges. I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals!

I currently offer evening and some weekend appointments.