We are all worthy of dignity, safety, and belonging.

Hello, my name is Marissa. I am a non-binary, neuroqueer, kinky, and queer, Pagan, practitioner of magic, who lives with chronic pain and disability. Given these lived experiences, I have felt the impact of intersectional marginalization. As a white person, I do my best to be aware of my own privilege and biases as part of dominant euro-centric descendant culture. I endeavor to do my best to do anti-oppression work that is trauma aware as I believe every person deserves to enjoy their life free from shame and oppression. I strive for cultural humility, and to be an accomplice in the continued fight against white supremacy wherever I can.

I became a sex therapist because I enjoy working with clients who desire more satisfying, fulfilling, and shame-free sex lives. I find it particularly rewarding to help folx who are sexually marginalized included but not limited to kinky folx, disabled and/or chronically ill folx, fat folx, those who are exploring their gender and/or sexual orientation.

As an autistic person I have deeply rooted special interests, and as someone with ADHD I gather new interests whenever something pulls my attention. I am an artist, performer, avid gardener, nerd and occultist. I am a dog Mom and a plant parent, and have a particular love of carnivorous, poisonous, entheogenic plants, and fungi.

I do my best work with folx who wish to work through their sexual difficulties and disappointments, those who have experienced trauma or have been negatively affected by relational abuse or toxicity, and those who are working to move past shame that has been reinforced by outside sources such as family, religion, or other societal or cultural pressures are welcome.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND SPECIFIC TO LGBTQ+ POPULATIONS

2021, 6 month Clinical Internship with Paul Gross, LPC at at 4Square Counseling, where I worked with 95% Transgender and Queer clients

CONTNUING EDUCATION:

2020, Our Intimate Selves: Sex, Gender, Orientation, and Transgender Awareness (16 hr Online Conference) Presented by Lee Harrington, The Sexual Health Alliance

2022, Asexuality & Aromanticism, AnteUp, with Aubri Lancaster

2022, EMDR Training LGBTQ+ Focus, The Creative Mindfulness Institute, with Roshni Chabra, MA, MFT, LMFT

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

2021-Present The American Association Of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)

2021-Present The American Counseling Association (ACA)

2021-Present The Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE), a division of the ACA

2023-Present International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling (IARTC), a division of the ACA

2023-Present Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), a division of the ACA

2023-Present Washington Mental Health Counselors Association

2023-Present American Mental Health Counselors Association