Marissa Katz Bellani, LMHC

Marissa Katz Bellani is an MA, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in Hawaii with eight years of experience. She works with adults on concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, grief, addictions, intimacy concerns, and coping with life changes. Sessions are conducted in English and Marissa accepts international clients; confirm session formats before booking.

Marissa uses a mix of approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, and elements of the Gottman Method. She combines conversational counseling with creative options rooted in her background in music and expressive arts. In practice this means talking through patterns, noticing thoughts and behaviors, and trying small, concrete experiments between sessions.

Many clients come with patterns that began in childhood or in their family of origin. Marissa helps people recognize those patterns and how they shape current relationships and emotions. She pays attention to attachment concerns, communication problems, codependency, and forgiveness work when those topics are relevant.

Her approach is collaborative and practical. Sessions often involve checking current stressors, practicing new communication or coping skills, and deciding on short steps to try before the next meeting. She also offers ways to use music or creative exercises for emotion regulation when that fits the client’s preference.

Marissa trained with a focus in music therapy and expressive arts therapies, and later completed graduate-level clinical training that led to her LMHC credential. Prospective clients should confirm specific session formats and scheduling details before booking.

How her approaches translate to online sessions