Marissa Halstead, LPCC

Therapeutic Orientation & Techniques
Brainspotting Trauma Treatment
Person-Centered Therapy
Emotion Focused Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Existential Therapy
Areas of Specialty
Trauma & Abuse Recovery
Sexual Abuse Recovery
Grief & Bereavement
Sexuality
Developing Self-Compassion
Church Hurt & Spirituality
Identity Development & Self Concept
Professional Background
Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate: CO LPCC.0019193,
Supervising Clinician: Alexandra Hoerr
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Denver Seminary, Denver, CO
BA in Psychology, Colorado Christian University, Lakewood, CO
Locations: Virtual Illinois & Colorado, In-Office Denver, CO
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
You might feel an immense amount of shame or expend a lot of energy trying to forget your pain or hide from your past. You might compare your struggles and think to yourself, “Things aren’t that bad, I’m not in a worst case scenario, right?” You may be experiencing feelings of deep guilt and anxiety in the way you’re living, but you don’t know where to start in the search for help. That isolation is agonizing and no one should have to live feeling like they are all alone or stuck in the circumstances they’re in. Additionally, the impact of trauma is real and has undeniable effects, one of which is feeling all alone in it. Healing is possible!
For better or for worse, you’ve coped as best as you can, but now we get to move toward the person you hope to be in our time together. We will find the “why” behind your pain and symptoms so that you can live a more fulfilling life. In therapy we will work to process, heal, and ultimately grow through insights from our mutual collaboration. Healing happens in the context of a relationship, so we are truly in this together! Sometimes that’s moments of seriousness, but sometimes that also moments of joy, celebration, or laughter. We value what humor and also what pain has to offer on this journey.
Someone once told me, “Therapy is undoing the aloneness and suffering someone feels.” I believe that while we are shaped by our earliest experiences, every person has the ability to change, including you. I am a lighthearted person, but I can hold the balance of rejoicing as well as the space for mourning. I’m also not a judgmental person, and whatever we need to look at I will respond to with compassion. I can resonate with the difficulty and immense bravery it takes to shine light on the darkest parts of ourselves. I will never abandon you in your pain. I am climbing with you out of the shadows and into the light together. I am this way and believe these things, in part, because I have crawled into the deep corners of my own life and came out the other side. I witnessed how my story took a different shape with the help of my therapist. In short, I know every person deserves healing and the opportunity to change.
I can relate to where you are right now and I encourage you to take the leap of faith. You don’t have to have it all together! In my experience, I don’t think anyone has it fully together. As you consider your next step, just know I would love to partner with you to explore parts of your story and put in the work towards healing. You are worth the time and effort! Don’t hesitate to reach out today. I am here to support you and would love to meet with you!
Articles by Marissa
Coming soon! Check out these from Optimum Joy’s staff:
Cultural Perspectives and Mental Health
Written by therapist Melissa Del CarmenAs some of you may know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Nowadays, many in the western world have normalized the topic of mental health. We see topics like self-care and testimonies of mental health experiences shared on...
Uncovering Your Values
Written by therapist Treshana LewisValues are defined as, “a person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important or beneficial in life” (Google), and as Elvis Presley once said, “Values are like fingerprints. Nobody's are the same, but...
What’s in a Diagnosis?
Written by therapist Ruth NathanielIf you clicked on this blog post, it’s likely that you may have recently been given a diagnosis and are curious or concerned about what it might mean for your mental health journey. Or maybe you’ve never received a diagnosis, but...