About Marisa
Marisa Riis is a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with 24 years of experience. She focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Her approach centers on listening, recognizing strengths, and taking small steps toward better days.
Marisa believes people know their own stories and already carry resources to move forward. She offers steady support while helping clients notice what is working and where change is possible.
Background and approach
Sessions tend to be straightforward and goal-oriented, with an emphasis on building confidence and motivation. She has worked in clinical settings for over two decades, gaining experience with a wide range of concerns related to mood and coping. That background informs a calm, experienced presence in sessions and practical ideas for managing day-to-day stress.
Marisa aims to make beginning therapy less intimidating. She helps people set realistic goals and uses simple tools to manage symptoms between sessions. Progress is measured in small changes that add up over time.
People who choose her often want clear guidance and encouragement rather than a lot of jargon. Marisa supports clients as they try new strategies, reevaluate expectations, and build more steady routines for mental health.
Evidence-based approaches and online care
Marisa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques focused on practical skills and symptom relief. One approach emphasizes short-term behavioral strategies to manage anxiety and depression by changing routines, practicing coping skills, and testing small experiments that reduce worry and lift mood. Another approach centers on processing grief and loss through paced conversations, memory work, and developing daily habits that restore energy and purpose.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about current struggles, goals, and preferences, then try methods that fit those needs. Over time techniques are adjusted based on what helps most, and clients play an active role in choosing strategies.
Online therapy offers flexibility for people juggling work, family, or errands. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief updates, homework check-ins, or when people prefer written reflection. These formats help make consistent care easier to schedule and maintain.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
Also listed
- Experience
- 24 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
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