Marisa K. Mickel, LCSW-R

Are you an actor, musician, writer, painter, graphic designer, or other creative professional / soul? Great! More info on my work with creatives HERE.
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Bio:
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My approach to psychotherapy and psychoanalysis attends to your concerns not only in the present moment, but also with attention to their origin and your future health and happiness. In doing, our sessions provide the safety and support to better know, accept, and enjoy yourself.

To do so, I integrate various psychological modalities, such as Jungian awareness, Modern psychology, intersubjectivity, object relations theory, CBT, and Vedic psychology, as relevant and helpful to you. Said more simply: I've assembled quite a toolbox over many years of training and experience. Which tools we use depends on what works for you.

​My interest and training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy arose from my combined professional background in the creative arts and a decades-long practice and exploration of meditation. This background is apparent in my specialized work with creative professionals and meditators (often both!). 

In keeping with my commitment to ongoing psychoanalytic exploration and study, I am also the director and an instructor of PPSC's one-year certificate program, Clinical Journeys.
"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." 
​-- C. G. Jung
Meditation Bio:
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As a meditation teacher, I'm similarly interested in bespoke approaches to individual needs.

I began meditating in childhood, initially favoring present-moment and loving-kindness approaches. Nearly fifteen years ago, I received a Vedic bija mantra, and have been practicing this twice daily meditation technique ever since. Although my personal preference is for transcendent approaches (such as VM), I continue to actively study, practice, and train in a range of meditation disciplines in order to best understand and meet diverse preferences and needs. My supplemental training draws from all four primary meditation forms (Present-Moment Awareness; Calm Focus; Energized Body-Mind; and Transcendent / Unified Consciousness) and includes both deep exploration of the Vedas (including Ayurveda, the Yoga Sutras, Upanishads, and use of Mudras, Asanas, and Pranayama), as well as continuing education in Mindfulness from both psychological and meditation-based perspectives.  I also worked as an assistant teacher in The Veda Center's esteemed 200-hour meditation teacher-training program.

As both a clinician and a meditation teacher, I'm committed to understanding each person's unique background, psychology, and meditation mind-type, so that together we can sculpt the specific meditation or psychotherapy practice that best serves you.

Education:
  • Yale University, B.A.
  • NYU Silver School of Social Work, M.S.W.
  • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center: Certificate in Psychoanalysis
  • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center: Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
  • The Veda Center: Certification in the Four Phases of Meditation (Present-Moment, Calm Focus, Energized Body-Mind, Transcendent/Self-Discovery)
  • Hunter College, Silberman School of Social Work: Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) -- anticipated completion April 2022
License: LCSW-R
Memberships: AAPCSW, IARPP