Spontaneity called, she wants her hat back.
Rediscover your most Playful Spirit
Therapy for Overthinking, Anxiety, Fear of the Unknown
In Person in Fort Walton Beach & Online across Florida and New Jersey
What-ifs and worst-case scenarios lowering your vibe? If making plans or decisions feels like a biblical nightmare, you’re in the right place.
the good news is, you can actually organize your way into a healthier imagination. Its just takes a little practice, and a therapist who values the power of play.
You’re smart, talented, funny, and people genuinely like you. But on the inside, you’re in a constant state of cringe. Everything you say is examined with a fine-tooth comb, before, during, and after the fact. Your inner critic has gone from predictable rampage to fully rogue. So, you clean, work, plan, bail, plan again, and can’t seem to escape an endless cycle of cynicism.
You’ve got certificates, a career, family, hobbies, and still feel utterly isolated. You are certain that if you stopped running in circles for a minute you might actually crumble. Of all the things you doubt—-it’s that there’s actually a way out of this internal mess. This is where we help you re-evaluate what’s really important and orient yourself to the people, places, and things that matter most. Imagine anxiety, incessant worry, and that crick in your neck dissolving instead of your confidence.
Feel familiar?
Intense fear of the unknown, trying to control for all possible outcomes
Crippling indecision that eats up most of your time and relationships
Unable to direct your thoughts, rest, or feel present
Replaying old conversations or rehearsing ones that may never happen
rational thoughts unite.
You didn’t get this far by reading a manual.
Let’s face it, you could probably run Grand Central Station at this point—with all the chronic stress, minutia, and white knuckling you’ve survived. So, why not bank on continuing to figure things out? Hypervigilance doesn’t have to be your default, or even your demeanor. It is possible to be an imperfect human who doesn’t have all of the answers, without being hijacked by irrational thoughts. Imagine what your life could be like if Virtual Insanity wasn’t its theme song.
Let’s redefine “prepared”.
why this time will be different:
I’m building a case to let the right-side of your brain join the party.
You’re in control here. Seriously. I want you to feel more in control of our time together than you have felt anywhere else in the world. From the lighting to the smell (sage available upon request), to our positions in the room, all designed by you. I trust that you know what’s best for you and I’m not going to let that treasure trove of wisdom go unused.
I expect you'll be polite, respectful — and that your shame will rear its lovely head the moment you realize this is a relationship that celebrates your need for order rather than pathologizes it. I respect your resistance to play and much like when you were a child, we will rediscover together, what stories feel safe enough to explore.
Ultimately, what changes is how you use your imagination.
I understand the seriousness of living with anxiety for so long. Leaving it behind might feel like losing a limb. But I’m here to show you that the fear, worry, and ratchet cuticles—were never part of your personality. Anxiety is information and overthinking is only one of many ways to organize that information. Other organizing tools I use include laughter, curiosity, creativity, and believe it or not, spontaneity. My goal is to help you embrace the holy messiness of being human without sacrificing feeling prepared. Together, we’ll track the sensations, environments, and thoughts that make you feel most secure and supported. Then, we’ll construct best case scenarios and act them out in real time to build your confidence and self-trust.
When our season together has concluded:
You’ll be clear and confident.
what to expect
Sessions with me are…
01semi-structured
I’m like a Type B camp counselor—-there’s a schedule, but we’re absolutely stopping to look at that interesting thing in the woods.
02restorative
Reminiscent of being at that friend’s house down the block whose mom was always cooking and saved you a seat at the table.
03INSPIRING
A documentary that made you reorganize your whole weekend—energy, new direction, new questions—but make it your life.
“I first had the pleasure of meeting Marisa as a participant in one of
my Daring Way™ shame-resilience workshops hosted for clinicians. From
these first experiences with Marisa, I was drawn to her passion for
counseling, her compassion for others, and her creativity as a clinician.”
— Sarah Springer, PhDThis is for you if…
You’re motivated and like a challenge
You have a solid baseline of self-awareness, skills, & insight
You want to go deeper in therapy
You are seeking more community & genuine connection
This is not for you if…
You want a quick fix
You prefer a blank slate therapist
You’re in active addition or have suicidal thoughts with intent to harm yourself
You need structured therapy with worksheets and homework
time to live lighter.