Marissa Gilbert, LCSW

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Helping Fellow Cancer Survivors Through Therapy and Emotional Healing

Navigating cancer treatment serendipitously led Marissa Gilbert to become a licensed clinical social worker and therapist to support others with the emotional healing she found missing after treatment, and a critical piece of her cancer survivorship journey. This led her to understand the difference between coping and healing and the connective tissue of medical trauma.

Her therapeutic style is personalized and collaborative—meeting people exactly where they are and focusing on progress rather than perfection. She helps clients restore safety in their bodies and rebuild trust in themselves as they heal. She works with clients healing from medical trauma, including cancer, chronic illness and pain. Her work also includes a dual diagnosis focus including addiction and ADHD.

In particular, Marissa specializes in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a proven trauma therapy that helps clients process overwhelming medical experiences like cancer or chronic illness. She helps clients reduce their triggers in medical settings (e.g. anxiety before appointments or scanxiety), rebuild trust in their bodies and experience emotional healing. Marissa practices an integrative approach, also utilizing somatic-based practices and Internal Family Systems-inspired techniques.

In addition to individual sessions, Marissa offers couples and group therapy designed for healthier relationships and rebuilding joy in daily life. She also provides EMDR intensive therapy options for those who wish to process trauma more quickly through extended sessions. Above all, recognizing life is messy and healing is not linear, Marissa is committed to helping people find peace in their bodies, clarity in their minds and connection to themselves and others. She recently launched her own practice Friedman Gilbert Therapy and is licensed in Virginia and Texas. You can also work with her or find other like-minded therapists for children and adults through Think Happy Live Healthy in Northern Virginia. Marissa has two mini labradoodles and you may find one popping up to join sessions, he promises full confidentiality.