Marissa O'Connor, LCSW

Marissa O'Connor is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in New York who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and challenges that come with life changes. She also supports those struggling with sleep, eating concerns, parenting strain, relationship problems, and symptoms of ADHD. Her approach centers on meeting practical needs and building everyday habits that make daily life easier.

Marissa listens without judgment and focuses on each person's strengths. Sessions are tailored to the individual rather than using the same plan for everyone. She emphasizes small, manageable changes that add up over time and uses ideas from cognitive behavioral work and mindfulness to change unhelpful thinking and routine patterns.

With seven years of clinical experience, Marissa brings a steady, calm approach to common and complex problems. She draws from client-centered methods to keep the conversation focused on what matters most to the person in front of her. Motivational interviewing helps when someone needs support making a change rather than just advice.

Her work often addresses practical issues like coping with grief, managing anger, improving communication, and dealing with caregiver stress. She also supports people facing obsessive thoughts, panic attacks, seasonal mood shifts, and recovery after abuse or disasters.

Marissa emphasizes partnership in therapy. She helps people set realistic goals, practice new skills between sessions, and track progress in ways that fit their daily life. The focus on thoughts and everyday habits is woven through this collaborative process.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding the person's perspective and building on their strengths to set goals and try small changes. It helps when someone needs a respectful space to talk and decide what matters most to them.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It offers practical exercises to test unhelpful thoughts and build new routines, which can reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and change habits over time.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches concrete skills for regulating intense emotions and improving distress tolerance. It can be useful for managing anger, impulsivity, and relationship tension by offering simple strategies to use in stressful moments.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to try methods that match their goals, needs, and pacing. If an approach isn't helping, they will adjust the plan and explore alternatives together.

If you are considering online therapy, please confirm available session formats before booking because options are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time so sessions are simpler to attend. Licensed professionals can guide skill practice between meetings so growth continues outside sessions.