Developing a trusting relationship with a therapist you connect with who meets your treatment and personal needs (e.g., clinical specialization, available appointment times, location, etc…) is very important!

Listed below is some information about my clinical specializations and experience.

If you would like to learn more I  offer a brief free 15 minute telephone consult to see if I may be a fit for your treatment needs.

Marissa Schnell, MA, LPA, MSW, LCSW

Contact Email: Marissa@Peacefulshoretherapy.com

Owner and Therapist

While I am able to help with many mental health challenges and personal goals, I specialize in therapy services for teens and adults with Anxiety, ADHD, OCD, low self-esteem, and trauma.

I greatly enjoy working with individuals who identify as neurodiverse, creative spirits, and people who have often felt different, misunderstood, or unique.

Clinical Approach

My clinical style is flexible, creative, strength-based and goal-oriented. I believe in helping clients identify values and goals that matter to them and to guide treatment. Sessions involve listening and support, but also involve active strategies to address symptoms and challenges that have brought you to treatment. Change and healing can feel overwhelming at first, but breaking things into small steps and finding ways to measure progress often can lead to positive results.

Clinical Specializations

For Individuals with Anxiety – I often help best with social anxiety, anxiety related to past trauma and/or difficult childhood experiences, anxiety related to life transitions, and generalized anxiety disorder.

For Individuals with ADHD – I often work well with people seeking to increase self-understanding, learn skills to address challenges, strengthen relationships, strengthen self-confidence, strengthen social skills, increase the ability to assertively communicate with others, increase self-compassion,  and work on challenges related to self-esteem.

For Individuals with OCD – I use a combination of therapeutic tools to help with OCD and other related challenges. I often use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness skills and trauma-informed therapy techniques with the clients I help.

For Individuals with Trauma – I have significant experience providing therapy services for people who have experienced sexual abuse, bullying, emotional abuse, betrayal, emotional neglect, caregiver disruption in childhood, and violence or excessive in relationships. The resilience, strength, and growth I see when working with these types of clients makes this one of my favorite clinical issues to help people with!

Experience and Techniques

I have worked as a therapist for 12 years in North Carolina. I strongly value learning new therapeutic skills to strengthen the services I provide. The clinical techniques I use vary based on client needs, but include the following:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
• Brainspotting
• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Play Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Mindfulness Skills

Outside of the Office

In addition to being a therapist, I am a parent, friend, and adult with ADHD. Working on my own challenges related to ADHD and anxiety have fueled my passion for helping others with these issues. I value continually learning new therapeutic strategies and finding resources to help the clients I serve.  When I have free time I enjoy painting, water activities, traveling, watching tv, coffee, podcasts, and spending time with my loved ones. I am also a creative person who enjoys many types of artistic expression (i.e., music, art, writing, photography, theater). I think creative activities are can be amazing resources for insight and healing! 

If you have any questions or would like to set up a brief consult please contact me by emailing me at Marissa@peacefulshoretherapy.com