Meet marissa

Hello! My name is Marissa Sanchez, and I am a first generation, queer Latinx social worker, that often finds myself getting lost in writing poetry in the many beautiful outdoor spaces around Austin. I fell in love with Austin five years ago when I moved here to pursue my dream of helping folx through the use of healing and art. I obtained my Bachelor’s in social work from St. Edward’s University and went on to receive my Master’s in social work from TCU in Fort Worth, Texas! Being a social worker that is very passionate about my work I am constantly in awe of the resilience we are capable of showing and adapting to as human beings. We are born into such a fast functioning ever changing world, often times without the tools or techniques that can help us grow and move forward! I fully believe my clients to be the absolute expert in their own experiences. I believe that therapy is for everyone!

Society often has us believe that there has to be something “wrong” for us to seek therapy, when in fact that is not true! Every single human on this planet could benefit from therapy, it’s all about finding the right fit for you and your unique needs! (Also, if anyone hasn’t told you this before,) there ISN’T anything “wrong” with you, you are human and you have lived experiences, some harder than others, but that is where working together to understand those parts of yourself can help! With that said, it is also important to note that first and foremost, I’m also human, I do my best to make that known to my clients. After identifying myself as human, next I am a social worker/ trauma therapist. There is often a misconception that therapists are supposed to know everything and have all the answers, and that is quite literally impossible. Yes I can help you find the answers and work with you, but, therapists aren’t supposed to have all the answers and I don’t, but I’m happy to walk alongside you, to learn and to grow with you throughout your healing journey!

It is important to me to help folx identify their strengths both in the therapy room but also in their day to day lives. When working alongside clients it is crucial for me to function from a culturally aware person-centered lens. Meaning YOU are in the driver seat; I am here to walk alongside you in your journey and support you through your growth, but you are in control of your healing and how each therapy session flows! If you show up one day wanting to process the past week and an isolated incident that occurred, great, let’s jump right in, and if the following week you are feeling like diving deeper and exploring some complex trauma that you have been working on processing more, amazing, I am up for that too! So long as you are being truly authentic to your experience and you feel ready and we can both determine that is the way to go, fabulous, let’s do it!

Much of my practice is based in mindfulness, meditation, and becoming more aware of feelings, thoughts, and responses. One of my main focuses is doing work with art and healing, through various different modalities! Being an artist, dancer, singer, and performer myself, I know firsthand the healing components art has to offer! Being the HUGE brain nerd that I am, I also help folx understand and learn more about brain based and epigenic research and practices (essentially how the brain functions, and why we experience some of the things we experience), this helps us look through a lens that is both trauma informed but also research based. Looking at your experience from the perspective of ‘what has happened to me, or what have I experienced” vs “what is wrong with me”. I truly believe that when folx can find understanding in their experiences it helps them connect on a deeper level with their healing and growth.

Being directly connected to various communities has led me, my heart, and my soul to work closely with BI-POC folx and the clients that identify in the various LGBTQ+ communities. The folx I see week to week come to me with various different experiences and my main goal is to meet them exactly where they are at, in each experience. Accessibility to therapy services is something incredibly important to me, and I do all that I can to make sure I can see clients no matter their financial situation. Growing up without direct access to services myself, truly has driven my passion and dedication to clients. I am an advocate, supporter, and fighter for all things accessible regardless of race, class, gender identity in ALL spaces. I wholeheartedly believe that we all have the strength we need to face hardships deep within us and our experiences, all we need is the right support and resources to channel that strength.

Some food for thought I hope to leave you with, that I wish for you to carry with you, no matter where your healing journey takes you, is that healing is not a destination, it is a life long journey, that takes forms in many different ways throughout our lives and as we grow and move throughout the world.

If you are ready to discover your strengths, and connect with different parts of yourself, I would be delighted to walk alongside you in your healing journey. You are so worthy of healing, you are so worthy of love, and you are so worthy of finding your true authentic self through the use of the different therapy modalities that best meet your unique needs!

Outside the therapy room I am an artist, I spend a lot of my time writing poetry, dancing and, creating art in all forms! I also enjoy getting out in nature and spending time with the people most close to me! You can also find me meditating and intention setting, while taking long walks in nature that help me feel re-centered.