Our Providers | Marisa Bownes, LCSW

Marisa Bownes, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker

Marisa Bownes believes Bessel van der Kolk said it best when he stated “Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body."

Marisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the field of mental health for over eight years. She has experience with a wide range of diverse populations, including those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and life transitions. Marisa believes in creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where clients feel empowered to explore their thoughts and emotions. She understands that trauma can be heavy and distressing in our lives, so having a safe space to process and understand those feelings is vital and important. 

Through empathy, validation, humor, and mindfulness exercises, Marisa specializes in assisting clients to process and heal from traumatic events. She uses evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and has a solid understanding of attachment styles to help her clients navigate their emotional and psychological challenges and develop the skills to recognize, work through, and change old patterns. 

Through her own experience in health and wellness, Marisa understands the interconnected relationship between mental health and physical health, and how that interplay can either exacerbate or alleviate overall well-being. She helps clients to understand this dynamic through mind and body practices, as well as integrate care. This includes combining therapy, lifestyle changes, and social support. 

Prior to her career as a Clinical Social Worker, Marisa worked as a Behavior Analyst, helping children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) understand and better manage their personal needs, symptoms, and their family dynamic.

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Experience & Education

Marisa received her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Children, Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health from the University of Eastern Michigan. She has a Certification in Infant Mental Health, as well as in Wraparound Coordination, which focuses on providing comprehensive, individualized care to ensure that each client receives the support they need to thrive. Her clinical experience includes a wide variety of professional settings such as community mental health, applied behavioral health clinics, and in home settings, as well as inpatient/outpatient hospitalization programs. 

Marisa is currently accepting new clients and provides both in person and remote (telehealth) therapy services

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