Hello and welcome! Let’s get the formal stuff out of the way. My name is Marissa Mitchell, and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Minnesota. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology in 2004 and then graduated from Argosy University with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2006. I took my first job in the mental health field in 2004 (uffda, that feels like a long time ago, ha), and became a fully independently licensed therapist in 2008. I am also a Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy approved supervisor. I have worked in a variety of settings: in-home, in-school, a non-profit, a for profit large clinic, and have now been in private practice since 2014.

I treat a variety of conditions, concerns and populations: anxiety disorders, mood disorders like depression, trauma and PTSD, grief/loss, relationship and communication issues, parenting, life transitions, identity exploration/stress, self-esteem, adolescent stressors, ages 13 and up, LGBTQIA, and BIPOC. My approach is not a one size fits all but I do have plenty of experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Family Systems, Attachment, and Solutions Focused Therapy. Therapy is work; I won’t lie about that. It takes effort, commitment, and going to places within yourself that might feel a little uncomfy, and my job is to partner with you to help you heal, learn, grow, let go, build better relationships, and live sustainable lives. I take a lot of pride in building healthy, safe, supportive, and sustainable relationships with my clients whether I work short term or long term with clients.

Now for the tea, some of the stuff my clients eventually tell me they want to know! I grew up mostly in Minnesota but was born on a military base in the Philippines and spent some time in California at then end of my Dad’s military career. I was raised by my dad as an only child which was significantly impactful on me and probably gave me some unique experiences. I identify as a cisgendered, able bodied, heterosexual, biracial woman of color (I’m half Filipina but raised by my white family), so I have experiences of privilege and experiences of marginalization. I’m divorced but still cherish the 23 years we had together. I don’t have any children biologically or legally, but I have mothered in the ways I could. I love dogs and have two fur babies (Piper is a 15 year old Golden Retriever and Saoirse is a 5 year old Red Setter). You will likely see them at some point in our virtual video sessions. I have some amazing friendships that I have intentionally cultivated, the kind that are reciprocal, supportive, non-judgmental, and that I can show up as my whole imperfect self (one of the best parts I have found about aging). I love to cook/bake (and eat), travel, paddleboard, go for walks in nature, lift weights, put art on my walls, listen to a variety of music, play cribbage, and take naps (oh how sweet the naps are the older I get). I suck at group sports or maybe I just feel too self-conscious to relax and enjoy doing them, but I will keep watching for the Minnesota Vikings to win a Superbowl. Yes, I’ve been to therapy myself. Understanding and working on myself remains a journey of practice, not perfection. I hope this has given you a flavor of who I am as a person and therapist. If you have questions, you can respectfully ask.