Marissa Merrill, LMHC, LPC

(she/her/hers)

Mental Health Counselor

About Me

“It was when I stopped searching for home within others and lifted the foundations of home within myself I found there no roots more intimate than those between a mind and body that have decided to be whole.” -Rupi Kaur

Although pain is a human experience, it often has the power to alienate us from ourselves and others. Perhaps you’re in the midst of relational distress, trying to make sense of systemic oppression, grieving the loss of a loved one or replaying past traumas. Whatever pain you carry, I am honored to walk alongside you in re-imagining a life where pain does not hold the final word in dictating who you are or where you want to go.

Throughout our time, I will collaborate with you to explore how your embodied experiences (neurobiology), past traumas (trauma informed frameworks), family of origin experience (attachment theory and narrative therapy) and cultural context (multicultural and systemic approach) have uniquely shaped you and the ways in which you navigate the world. Through this process, I ultimately hold you as the expert of your life and experiences. Additionally I pull from other approaches such as, DBT, CBT, mindfulness and MI.

As you bravely enter this space, I honor your courage and vulnerability. As an Asian-American who is acquainted with oppression, cultural tension and pain, I know first hand healing can be strange and scary. I do not take for granted the honor it is to witness you face your scars. Although therapy may not always be easy, my ultimate hope is that we will uncover the home that has always existed within you; and in doing so, find a more meaningful connection with yourself and to those around you.

Education and Training

I graduated from the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology with a Masters in Counseling Psychology. I am also a graduate of the Immigration Evaluation Institute. My past clinical experience has been primarily based in community mental health settings where I worked with diverse individuals and groups who have experienced trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues and identity issues. I specialize in working with POC and undocumented clients and clients who have experienced trauma. I have my LMHC and LPC.

Fees & Contact Info

Please contact me for further information on fees.

p: 206-485-3300
e: marissa@mosaiccounselingcollective.com

w: www.marissakmerrill.com

Location

Due to COVID-19 I am only seeing patients through telehealth at this time.

Additional Services Offered

Cross-Cultural Consults for Therapists:

As an Asian American therapist and person who has both provided services for BIPOC clients and who has also sought therapeutic services for myself, I know and have experienced how transformative and healing it can be when cultural values, frameworks and perspectives are considered and held in the therapeutic relationship. In addition to my lived experience, I also have formal cross-cultural training, have participated in ethnographic research and have an educational background in cultural anthropology.

I offer consultation services for therapists looking to learn more about how to cross-culturally engage with clients and specialize in offering therapeutic considerations for Asian/Asian American, immigrants and children of immigrant clients.

Please contact Marissa directly at marissa@mosaiccounselingcollective.com for more information.

Immigration Psycho-Social Evaluations

I have been trained to provide psychosocial evaluations for both humanitarian visas and hardship/waiver cases in Washington, Oregon and Colorado state. I speak both Spanish and English and previously have experience working as a paralegal for an immigration lawyer and am familiar with the various legal processes of filing for status.

My approach aims to work closely with both client and attorney to provide quality detailed reports. Throughout the evaluation, I will do my best to offer a compassionate and supportive environment as I know it can be challenging to discuss the past or impending traumatic event(s).

Assessments include 1-2 interviews, all collateral communication with the attorney and a final report.

*I hold a limited number of sliding scale/discounted spots for clients every month. Payment plans are also available as needed.*

*I hold a limited number of pro-bono, sliding scale and/or discounted psycho-social evaluations. Payment plans available as needed*

Please contact Marissa directly at marissa@mosaiccounselingcollective.com for more information