Marissa%252BParker.jpg
Marissa%252BParker.jpg

Marissa Parker, RP

$0.00

Therapist focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

"Build your toolkit for the hardest seasons."

You're putting on a brave face, but inside you're not the person you used to be. Your patience is thin. You've snapped at people you love. The daily stress is building, and you don't know how much longer you can keep this up.

Whether you're navigating postpartum anxiety or depression, raising a neurodivergent child with autism, or dealing with relationship stress and life transitions, the "how I should be feeling" thoughts are making everything worse. You're exhausted from trying to live up to expectations, your own and everyone else's. It's not fair that major life events like having a baby or raising children come without better support.

Marissa serves as a Team Lead at InnerWorks Counselling and is trained in EMDR therapy, sand tray therapy, and play therapy techniques to support clients across the lifespan. She understands that daily life stresses build up and show up differently in each person, affecting your relationship with yourself and those around you.

Marissa supports adults with pregnancy and postpartum anxiety or depression, life stress, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and working with neurodivergent children and their families, particularly those with autism diagnoses. She'll help you challenge the negative self-talk and "but I should feel this way" thoughts, building your toolkit with strategies that improve your relationship with yourself and others.

Known for her empathetic, non-judgemental approach, Marissa creates a warm, compassionate space where you feel safe and comfortable throughout your entire journey, overcoming obstacles and accomplishing your goals.

Ready to build your toolkit for wellbeing? Contact InnerWorks Counselling today to schedule your first session with Marissa. InnerWorks offers services in person in our Lambeth (London, Ontario) office, and online for clients across Ontario.

Therapist focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

"Build your toolkit for the hardest seasons."

You're putting on a brave face, but inside you're not the person you used to be. Your patience is thin. You've snapped at people you love. The daily stress is building, and you don't know how much longer you can keep this up.

Whether you're navigating postpartum anxiety or depression, raising a neurodivergent child with autism, or dealing with relationship stress and life transitions, the "how I should be feeling" thoughts are making everything worse. You're exhausted from trying to live up to expectations, your own and everyone else's. It's not fair that major life events like having a baby or raising children come without better support.

Marissa serves as a Team Lead at InnerWorks Counselling and is trained in EMDR therapy, sand tray therapy, and play therapy techniques to support clients across the lifespan. She understands that daily life stresses build up and show up differently in each person, affecting your relationship with yourself and those around you.

Marissa supports adults with pregnancy and postpartum anxiety or depression, life stress, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and working with neurodivergent children and their families, particularly those with autism diagnoses. She'll help you challenge the negative self-talk and "but I should feel this way" thoughts, building your toolkit with strategies that improve your relationship with yourself and others.

Known for her empathetic, non-judgemental approach, Marissa creates a warm, compassionate space where you feel safe and comfortable throughout your entire journey, overcoming obstacles and accomplishing your goals.

Ready to build your toolkit for wellbeing? Contact InnerWorks Counselling today to schedule your first session with Marissa. InnerWorks offers services in person in our Lambeth (London, Ontario) office, and online for clients across Ontario.

Book an appointment with Marissa

Areas of Focus

  • Play therapy

  • Sand tray therapy

  • Life Stress & Transitions

  • Relationship Challenges

  • Parenting Concerns

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - Children & Families

  • Trauma (EMDR Therapy)

  • Communication Skills

  • Faith-based Counselling (Christian)

 

Languages

  • English

 

Trainings

  • EMDR

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 1

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 2

  • Sand Tray Therapy

Fees, Insurance & Billing

Marissa’s fee is $200 / session (individual) and $220 / session (couples and family)

Marissa is registered for direct billing with:

  • Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)

  • GreenShield

  • Medavie Blue Cross

  • Canada Life

  • Manulife

  • NIHB

  • And many other insurance providers

InnerWorks can direct bill most plans for your convenience.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps process traumatic memories. For postpartum or birth trauma, EMDR can reduce the emotional intensity of difficult memories, like traumatic birth experiences, NICU stays, or overwhelming early parenting moments, so you can think about them without being overwhelmed. It's highly effective for processing trauma quickly and deeply.

  • Sand tray therapy uses miniature figures and sand to help you express thoughts and feelings that might be hard to put into words. It's particularly helpful for processing complex emotions, trauma, or relationship dynamics. Both children and adults benefit from sand tray therapy, it bypasses the logical brain and allows for deeper emotional processing and insight.

  • Marissa's training across the lifespan means she can support entire families. She might see a mother individually for postpartum depression while also seeing the family's child for autism-related support. This holistic approach ensures the whole family system is supported and strategies are coordinated across all family members.

  • While your child may have educational or behavioral supports, therapy addresses the emotional and relational aspects of autism. Marissa helps autistic children develop emotional regulation skills, process difficult experiences, improve communication, and build coping strategies. She also supports parents in understanding their child's needs and managing their own stress.

  • During your initial consultation, Marissa will help you determine the best approach. Sometimes individual therapy is most helpful; other times family sessions or a combination works best. The approach can also shift over time as your needs evolve.

Marissa’s Blog

Blog
What Half Marathon Training Taught Me About Mental Health Therapy (As a Therapist)
Marissa Parker, RP
What Half Marathon Training Taught Me About Mental Health Therapy (As a Therapist)
Marissa Parker, RP

“Progress isn’t linear, not on the pavement, and not on the therapist’s couch.”

As a Registered Psychotherapist, I spend my days talking about patience, endurance, and the courage to be “uncomfortably comfortable.” But it wasn't until I returned to long-distance running that I truly began to live those lessons physically. Whether you are navigating a 21km training block or working through a deep emotional transition, the principles remain the same: you cannot skip the foundational steps, and consistency will always beat fleeting motivation.

From learning to honor rest days to trusting the speed of the therapeutic process, this article explores five humbling lessons learned at the intersection of physical endurance and mental health. Discover why "trusting the process" is more than just a cliché, it is the essential framework for sustainable growth.

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Marissa Parker, RP
Puppet POWER! Teaching Kids Emotional Regulation
Marissa Parker, RP
Puppet POWER! Teaching Kids Emotional Regulation
Marissa Parker, RP

Sometimes big feelings are easier to talk about when a puppet does the talking. Registered Psychotherapist Marissa Parker explores how puppet play creates a 'safe distance' for kids to practice emotional regulation, build empathy, and navigate social fears in London, Ontario.

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Marissa Parker, RP
Parenting: Surviving and thriving
Marissa Parker, RP
Parenting: Surviving and thriving
Marissa Parker, RP

Helping a child in a meltdown requires more than logic—it requires brain integration. In Part 2 of our series, Marissa Parker, RP, explains how to 'Connect and Redirect' and use 'Name It to Tame It' strategies to help your child move from emotional overwhelm to logical learning.

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Marissa Parker, RP
Parenting: Surviving AND Thriving
Marissa Parker, RP
Parenting: Surviving AND Thriving
Marissa Parker, RP

Parenting can be the most rewarding role, yet the most exhausting. If you're struggling with 'Bad Mom' feelings, toddler meltdowns, or a disconnected teen, you aren't alone. Discover how parent coaching can help you reclaim the joy in motherhood and build a 'good enough' home in London, Ontario.

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Marissa Parker, RP
Practicing Mindfulness with Little Ones (Ages 2-5)
Marissa Parker, RP
Practicing Mindfulness with Little Ones (Ages 2-5)
Marissa Parker, RP

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the environment around you, without overreacting or getting overwhelmed by stimuli.

Mindfulness might seem out of reach for children aged 2-5, but it’s actually a great age to begin teaching mindfulness practices! These practices can be taught through toy play, body movements, and listening to sounds carefully. These practices can assist children as they grow by helping them to focus their attention and regulate emotions.

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Marissa Parker, RP