Marissa Mirbach

Marissa Mirbach

Associate Clinical Social Worker #120478

Santa Cruz Office

Medi-Cal & Insurance provider

You don’t have to navigate uncertainty or emotional overwhelm alone. I work with adults and older teens who are moving through life transitions, managing anxiety and depression, and longing for self-understanding. Many of my clients are thoughtful, insightful individuals who find themselves stuck in overthinking, rumination, or feelings of groundlessness. I offer therapy that honors the full complexity of who you are — your emotions, your identity, your relationships, your spirituality, and your hopes.
I am committed to providing an inclusive, affirming space where all parts of your experience are welcomed with care and respect. Your values and beliefs are central to our work together. I integrate approaches like Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness based practices into my work.
My style is warm, collaborative, and intuitive. Therapy with me is a partnership — we work together to cultivate greater flow, freedom, and self-trust, even when life feels uncertain.

If you feel called to this work, I invite you to reach out for a phone consultation. I would be honored to support you on your path toward greater authenticity and aliveness.

Request an Appointment

To Request an Appointment at Shine a Light or NPCC, please fill out this form. We respond to inquiries Monday through Friday. All inquiries we receive on the weekends or holidays will be processed the next business day. Thank you for your patience. If you need immediate services, please call 911.

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Your Name
Name of Intended Client
Contact Preferences:
Date of Birth (of the intended client)
Use the drop down menu to select your nearest location.
Of whoever is paying for therapy
Use the drop-down menu to select your insurance coverage.
Use the drop-down menu to select the type of counseling you want.
Use the drop-down menu to indicate if you have seen a therapist with us previously.
Issues You Want Help With:
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EVENINGS you are Available:
This helps us track your inquiry and respond to you quickly.
HIPAA Referral Form (for professional use)

New Office in San Francisco!

Shine a Light Counseling Center is please to merge with New Perspectives Center for Counseling. NPCC has been serving the San Francisco community for thirty years. Now NPCC is transitioning to become the San Francisco site for Shine a Light. NPCC will retain its name, character and history. For information about NPCC or counseling in San Francisco:

 

New Perspectives Center for Counseling (link)

Agency Contact Form (for Organizations seeking to contact our administration)
Emergency Contact

Shine a Light does not provide crisis services. If you have a mental health emergency, call 988 or 911. Or  click here  for more Crisis Resources

Telephone Contact

You can call Shine a Light at 831-996-1222, but we encourage you to use the email forms to the left. If you call, please leave the following:

  • Phone number
  • Preferred location
  • Best times to meet
  • Issue you want help with
  • What insurance you have (if any)

FAX us at: 831-417-0443

Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your therapy sessions will cost. Your fee will be set according to a sliding scale, in collaboration with your therapist, prior to your first counseling session. Total costs depend upon the number of sessions you choose to utilize.

If you have private health insurance and we are not in-network with your plan, please be aware that your costs for therapy may be less by using an in-network provider. This will depend upon your plan's deductible amounts and co-payments. In some cases, counseling at Shine a Light is less costly than using private insurance.

If you hope to use "out of network" benefits through your private insurance, please be aware that many plans will not reimburse for services provided by trainees. Please request an Associate level therapists for out-of-network billing.

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Shine a Light Counseling Center

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