Your Story Matters.

Strengthening self and enhancing relationships
through awareness and exploration.

Types of Therapy I Offer

Individual Therapy

During difficult moments in life, individual therapy offers the chance for growth and support on a personal level.

Marriage and Relationship Therapy

Marriage therapy can help couples strengthen their bond as well as work through any problems they face.

Family Therapy

Parenting concerns, sibling conflict, and general changes affecting the family system are common issues addressed.

Group Therapy

Being a part of a group of peers who are in a similar situation boosts understanding and helps to create life-changing solutions.

Hi, I'm Marisa!

I’m a marriage and family therapist, relationship researcher, and educational psychologist. I take a collaborative approach to create a warm atmosphere where clients feel comfortable sharing their stories and lived experiences. I am a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, have completed Level 1 and 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and I am also the author of From First Kiss to Forever: A Scientific Approach to Love, a book that relates relationship science research to everyday experiences and real relationship issues confronted by couples.

I am passionate about discovering and sharing important relationship research from the field, and have given guest lectures at locations including the 92nd Street Y, Strand Bookstore, and the New York Hall of Science. I am also a 2021 TEDx Speaker, have appeared in segments for Newsweek, and am the subject of a piece focusing on my work, which aired on BRIC TV. My work has been quoted in publications such as Bustle, Good Housekeeping, The Cut, InStyle, The Washington Post, Men’s Health, and Women’s Health. I have also appeared on many podcasts and radio shows to discuss the psychology of love and ways in which we can improve our relationships.

Featured Videos

From First Kiss to Forever: A Scientific Approach to Love

From First Kiss to Forever: A Scientific Approach to Love is a fun and humorous, yet scientific, book about relationships. This book introduces the reader to relationship science. The chapters examine how people meet, select their mates, and fall in and out of love.

Readers need not be scientists to understand the information presented. Each chapter relates present-day research to everyday experiences and real relationship issues confronted by couples. Each ends with take home tips/questions to help the reader apply the lessons in their own life.

See what I’m up to…

My mental health post today is inspired by my pup. 🐶 Research has demonstrated the benefits of pets on both psychological and physiological health. Some studies have found a lower rate of hypertension amongst dog and cat owners and others have dem
Experiencing the Sunday Scaries? The Sunday Scaries is a real phenomenon that describes the feeling of dread linked to anticipatory anxiety about the upcoming work week. People can experience both psychological and physiological symptoms, ranging fr
My mental health post today is sponsored by nature. Research has demonstrated that spending time in nature has a positive effect on both psychological and physiological health. Spending time in nature has been shown to boost mood, enhance cognitive f
Prioritize your mental health. Check out @namicommunicate for information about programs and initiatives in your community and beyond.
💕#thoughtfulthursday
“This is now how I like to think of love, not as one person merging into another, but as two stars who have been through their own pressures and turmoils and triumphs, coming together to shine side by side, no matter how long it takes to get th
💕 #thoughtfulthursday
Sue Johnson, attachment researcher and the founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) December 19, 1947- April 23, 2024
What is catastrophizing?
Happy Earth Day! 🌎 [Photo taken at Taughannock Falls in Ithaca, NY] “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead