Marissa Katz Bellani, LMHC

Marissa Katz Bellani is a licensed mental health counselor who aims to help people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, depression, addiction concerns, and issues like jealousy. She presents a calm, warm presence and works with clients on practical steps toward greater balance and self-understanding. Marissa emphasizes meeting people where they are and moving at a pace that feels manageable.

She uses a blend of conversational, client-centered work and structured tools from cognitive behavioral therapy when helpful. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas and mindfulness practices are woven in to help people notice painful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. The Gottman Method informs her work on relationship communication and connection.

Marissa brings eight years of experience in counseling and related settings. Her background includes study in Music Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapies, which she may draw on for people who want a creative way to access feelings and memories.

Sessions focus on clear, down-to-earth strategies - for example, building routines to manage anxiety, practicing small communication skills, or naming patterns that keep someone stuck. She aims to be nonjudgmental and supportive while encouraging realistic, stepwise change.

If someone is coping with life transitions, caregiver stress, chronic illness, attachment concerns, or struggles with intimacy and self-esteem, Marissa offers collaborative work to clarify goals and try different approaches.

How therapeutic approaches shape online work

Marissa draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her online sessions. ACT helps people notice difficult thoughts and commit to actions that match their values, which can ease the tug-of-war with painful feelings. Client-Centered Therapy centers the conversation on the person’s experience, offering empathetic listening that helps people feel understood and clearer about their next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on practical skills to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, useful for anxiety, depression, and stress.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Marissa will talk with each person about goals, what has helped before, and preferences for more conversational or skills-based work. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress or needs change.

For practical matters, confirm current session options before booking so you know how she is offering services at that time. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. They also let people use creative methods discussed in sessions, such as music or expressive exercises, without rearranging a commute.