LMFT, 8 years of experience
New to Grow
I’m Marissa Dearborn, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping teens and young adults navigate life transitions, relationships, and emotional growth with honesty and self-compassion. My style is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based care, blending approaches like CBT, MI, IPT, and trauma-informed therapy to meet each client where they are. I believe therapy works best when it feels real, supportive, and empowering, a space where you can explore who you are, what you need, and where you want to go next.
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin building a sense of comfort and trust. I’ll spend time learning about you, what has been going on, what has brought you to therapy, and what you hope to get out of the process. Together, we will explore your background, current stressors, and what feels most important to focus on right now. My goal is to create a safe and supportive space where you can share openly while we begin identifying goals that feel realistic and meaningful for you. By the end of our first meeting, you will have a clearer sense of what therapy with me looks like and how we can move forward together.
Therapy with me is centered on connection, curiosity, and collaboration. I believe growth happens when people feel genuinely seen and supported, so sessions are focused on creating a space where you can show up as yourself and feel understood. I aim to help clients explore their patterns, find clarity in their emotions and relationships, and feel empowered to make choices that align with who they are and what they value. The work is both reflective and practical, offering room for honesty, laughter, and meaningful change.
I work with individuals navigating the meaningful and sometimes messy transitions of young adulthood, as they figure out who they are, what they want, and how to build relationships that feel authentic and supportive. My clients are often exploring new phases of independence, adjusting to shifts in family or partner dynamics, entering parenthood, or redefining what success and fulfillment look like as their lives evolve. Together, we create space to slow down, reflect, and move through change with clarity and self-compassion. Therapy becomes a place to reconnect with yourself, strengthen your relationships, and feel more grounded in the person you are becoming.
In my work with young adults, I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) because it meets you exactly where you are — not where someone else thinks you should be. MI is a collaborative, non-judgmental approach that helps you explore your ambivalence, find your own reasons for change, and build confidence in your ability to move forward. Rather than telling you what to do, I focus on helping you reconnect with your values, clarify your goals, and strengthen the motivation that comes from within. Whether you’re navigating life transitions, relationships, recovery, or self-growth, MI creates space for honesty, empowerment, and real, sustainable change.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) because it helps young adults make sense of the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors — and empowers them to shift the patterns that no longer serve them. CBT is practical, goal-oriented, and focused on building skills you can actually use in your daily life. Together, we identify unhelpful thought patterns, challenge self-criticism, and experiment with new ways of thinking and coping. For many young adults, CBT offers a sense of structure and relief — it’s about gaining tools to feel more grounded, confident, and in control of your own story.
I use Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) because our relationships — with friends, family, partners, and ourselves — shape so much of how we feel day to day. IPT focuses on understanding how life changes, losses, and communication patterns impact your mood and self-esteem. For young adults navigating transitions, identity shifts, or evolving relationships, this approach helps make sense of emotional ups and downs and strengthens your ability to connect in healthy, authentic ways. Together, we work to improve communication, build confidence in expressing needs, and create more balanced, supportive relationships that enhance your overall well-being.
I take a trauma-informed approach because everyone deserves to feel safe, seen, and in control of their healing. Many young adults carry the weight of past experiences — big or small — that shape how they see themselves and the world. A trauma-informed lens means I move at your pace, prioritize safety and trust, and focus on helping your body and mind feel grounded again. Rather than asking “what’s wrong with you,” we explore “what happened to you” — and how you’ve learned to survive. From there, we build skills for regulation, connection, and self-compassion, so you can move forward feeling more empowered and whole.