About Marisa
Marisa Riis uses practical, evidence-based techniques to help people manage stress and anxiety. She is a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois with 24 years of professional experience. Marisa focuses on simple tools people can use between sessions to feel steadier and more able to cope.
She helps people who are dealing with grief and loss find ways to carry on when things feel raw. Depression and low self-esteem are also areas she addresses, often by building small routines that restore confidence.
Background and approach
Her approach leans toward clear steps and steady support rather than lengthy theory talks. Marisa listens for strengths in each person’s story and helps them use those strengths to meet current challenges. Sessions aim to be collaborative, with practical strategies chosen together.
She guides people through problem-solving, mood management, and ways to rebuild confidence after setbacks. Over her career she has supported people facing life changes and the ongoing pressures of day-to-day living. Her style is straightforward, encouraging, and focused on measurable progress.
Marisa emphasizes pacing work to match each person’s energy and needs. If someone prefers sessions by phone, video, chat, or text messaging, she can work in those formats. Marisa accepts English-speaking clients from Illinois and international clients who are comfortable with English.
To begin, a short matching questionnaire is used to pair a person with the right therapist and schedule sessions.
Approaches that guide online care
Marisa uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach emphasizes building coping skills to reduce anxiety and manage stress through small, repeatable actions that fit daily life. This helps people who feel overwhelmed by routine pressures or sudden changes.Another approach concentrates on mood and motivation, working step-by-step to lift low mood and rebuild confidence. It often involves setting tiny goals, tracking progress, and adjusting tasks so they feel achievable. This can be helpful for depression and low self-esteem.
Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they choose strategies and tweak them over time so the work fits the person’s pace and needs.
Online formats offer flexibility that many people need. Video calls let people keep visual contact and read cues, while phone sessions require less bandwidth and can be easier during busy days. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for shorter check-ins, ongoing support between sessions, and people who prefer typing to talking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, and travel schedules while keeping the focus on the therapeutic work.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
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Also works with
- Experience
- 24 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English