Marisa Mercuri, M.A., Ph.D.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and member of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec (O.P.Q.). I work with adults of all ages and provide individual, couple, and family therapy. My areas of expertise include treatments for anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and stress management, as well as interpersonal, sexual, and couple difficulties (see list below).

 

My approach to therapy is based on the following:

• Understanding and non-judgment: First and foremost, my aim is to understand who you are, how you came to be, and what challenges you are presently facing, all from a curious, empathic, and non-judgemental stance.

• Mutual collaboration: In my view, the most effective courses of therapy result from therapist and client jointly working together toward understanding and change. The alliance we form is an active and essential component of our therapeutic work.

• Radical transparency: I value your openness with me, in addition to my own with you – I practice with transparency in that I will share my thinking about what may be contributing to and maintaining the issues you are presently confronting.

 

From a theoretical standpoint, my approach to therapy is best described as integrative. That is, I integrate interventions rooted in different schools of thought including cognitive-behavioural (CBT), acceptance and commitment (ACT), dialectical behaviour (DBT), mentalization-based (MBT), psychodynamic, humanistic, and existential therapies. I often implement process-based and emotion-focused interventions, as I find they help identify and address underlying core issues, and not just surface-level issues. Ultimately, I recognize and appreciate individual uniqueness, and thus tailor my interventions accordingly.

 

Qualifications and Expertise:

I have obtained a B.A. in Honour’s Psychology, M.A. in Clinical Psychology, and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Concordia University.  Over the course of my academic career, I have acquired extensive training and experience within public, private, and community settings in Montreal and working with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, OCD and related disorders, low self-esteem, burnout, insomnia, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal discord, life transitions, and gender and identity issues.  I completed my doctoral residency within the McGill University Health Centre, during which I received specialized training in personality disorders (Personality Disorders Program) as well as sexual dysfunctions, sexual trauma, and couple/relationship distress (Sex and Couple Therapy Service).

 

Additionally, I am a published researcher within the field of developmental psychology. My research is centered on touch within the context of parent-infant relationships starting from birth and throughout the first year of life. The nature of my research has inevitably cultivated my appreciation for early life experiences, interpersonal dynamics, and attachment, and how these may impact the development and maintenance of psychological issues. As a scientist-practitioner, I regularly integrate my empirical knowledge into my clinical practices, which helps ensure that my interventions are both up-to-date and effective. 

 

Specific Areas of Expertise

• Anxiety (general, social, panic, phobias)

• Depression (including low motivation, mood instability, insomnia)

• Emotional regulation difficulties

• Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCD, trichotillomania, excoriation)

• Self-esteem/worth

• Interpersonal issues including communication and assertiveness

• Relationship/couple distress and discord

• Sexual issues and dysfunctions

• Sexuality and identity

• Trauma, loss, and grief

• Stress management, burnout

• Life transitions (divorce/separation, parenthood, gender transitions)

• Personal growth and development

 

Appointment Scheduling

Please send me an email, briefly summarizing your presenting issues and availabilities.