Meet Mariana Zapf, LCSW, SEP - Mind Body Therapist in CT
Reclaim peace of mind.
Rediscover confidence.
Build the life you deserve.
You have a sense that something is off, but you can’t quite put your finger on it.
Your heart can’t settle and your mind won’t stop trying to figure it out, but all that does is keep you spinning your wheels, drowning in self doubt and having out-of-control emotional reactions that you later regret.
To top it off, you feel like you’re constantly disappointing yourself and everyone around you.
You’re overwhelmed.
You keep losing your cool.
You feel like you’re falling short in being who those around you need you to be - and who you want to be.
And, for the life of you, you don’t know what to do or how to make it better.
You don’t need to stay stuck in this draining cycle.
Together, we can draw on the wisdom of your mind and body to help you feel calmer, think more clearly, and show up in relationships with confidence and self-respect.
You have come to the right place.
You may be thinking about trying therapy for the first time. Or you may have tried it before and are looking for something different.
Whether you feel
anxious about everything and nothing in particular
confused about what’s making you so unhappy
alone in your struggles
unseen, unsupported and disconnected in your relationships
Meet Mariana!
I'm a self-proclaimed nerd who loves helping clients understand the science behind what we do. Clients describe me as smart, warm and genuine. They say they feel safe with me, knowing they’re working with someone knowledgeable who can also explore sensitive issues - offering compassion, not judgement.
I believe that empowering clients with knowledge is key to leaving therapy feeling confident and equipped with real tools to move forward. But I also believe therapy needs to go beyond skill building. True healing happens when we address the root of pain, not just learn ways to cope with it.
Many of my clients tell me they appreciate the shift from being stuck in their heads to reconnecting with their bodies and hearts. Therapy that stays “above the neck” has its place - I’ve both done it and received it - but in my experience, deep healing happens when we go beyond thoughts and create a mind-body connection, engaging with the other layers of our experience that often take a backseat to thinking.
Why Mind Body Therapy?
Integrating the body into psychotherapy might seem unusual, but it's often key to achieving balance. Though I was clinically trained in some of the best universities in the country, it wasn’t until my somatic and brain-based training that I not only learned the role that the body plays in healing, but also experienced the powerful effects of it myself. This approach complements parts work, which helps us get to know the facets of ourselves that we are unfamiliar with, and that often times “run the show” without us even knowing.
Addressing all elements of our experience - including mind and body - is what I have seen transform the parts of us still holding onto old stories and distress, which is ultimately what gets us unstuck and frees us to live the life we desire.
Principles guiding my mind body therapy style
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We can understand a situation and what we need to do to change it and still not be able to do it. Similarly, we can have a vast amount of knowledge on a topic and still struggle with situations that involve it. That’s because there’s a lot more happening within us than we realize. Learning to notice our sensations, impulses and emotions; naming them and working with them is crucial to being able to let go of what keeps us stuck; which is why it is a focus of the work I do with all of my clients.
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I believe that the body belongs in the therapy room just as much as the mind. We experience emotions in the body. Similarly, though our circular thoughts are typically what holds us hostage, nonstop thinking is usually a reaction to the brain perceiving emotional, sensory or physical discomfort. Gradual exploration of impulses, emotions and sensations in the body helps us not only gain a greater understanding of our experience, but also leads to more holistic healing.
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When hurtful things happen and leave scars on us, it seems that we are destined to live with its consequences forever.
But we now know that the brain can be rewired, and that when our system feels safe and compassionately held, it can release the burdens it holds, creating room for change and transformation. You can let go of the past and create a new narrative for your life. I’d be happy to partner with you in that journey. -
We all have traits that we dislike about ourselves, behaviors that we wish we could do away with, and emotions we would rather not experience. In our work together, we’ll welcome these ‘inconvenient’, sometimes seemingly pesky experiences, as they are manifestations of parts of us doing their best to try to help us. I believe that all parts are well intentioned (yes, even those), and once welcomed and met with compassion, change flows much more easily.
Holistic healing methods that go beyond talk therapy
Somatic Experiencing
I utilize a body-based approach that invites exploration of sensations, emotions, impulses and behaviors to examine what may be driving your struggles outside of your awareness. We work to either complete or discharge the distress that is stuck in the body so your energy can flow, and you can be intentional in what you do rather than driven by automatic reactions.
Internal Family Systems
My approach is based on the idea that we all have many parts that help us accomplish goals. Sometimes they are helpful, and sometimes they cause us pain and confusion while trying to help. All parts are benevolent and well-intended. We’ll work to befriend them so that we can help meet their needs, let them know they’re not alone, and release the burdens they carry, allowing you to be in leadership of your life.
Brainspotting
As humans, we rely heavily on our sense of vision to take in and understand the world and ourselves. Because we now know that where we look affects how we feel, my approach recruits your eyes to guide us in accessing and exploring material that would otherwise go unnoticed. This, in turn, helps to rewire neural connections in your brain, and creates the holistic healing that we aim for - brain, mind and body.
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Somatic Experiencing Practitioner - Somatic Experiencing Institute
IFS Therapist (Levels 1, 2 & 3) - Internal Family Systems Institute
IFS for Complex Trauma
Brainspotting Practitioner (Phases 1 & 2 and From Freeze to Thaw) - Brainspotting International
Certified Trauma Care Practitioner - Global Trauma Institute
Introduction to Hakomi: Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy, Hakomi Institute
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Masters in Social Work, Columbia University (2006)
Bachelor’s in Psychology, UCLA (2000)
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in CT
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I’m a foodie! I love exploring restaurants, spices, new cuisines, and different flavors. Making yummy food is one of the ways I show love to the people I care about. So, when I’m not working, you can find me at the farmer’s market or in my kitchen, cooking meals for my husband and kids or treats for family and friends. I also have a passion for all things health and wellness-related: nutrition, fitness/movement, holistic medicine, contemplative practices, stress management, sleep/rest, and being in community. I am a proud mom, and LOVE spending time with my teenage children. Though they are mostly grown and have busy lives, being with them is one of my favorite things to do when they indulge me. Other things I enjoy are reading, working out, spending time with friends, the performing arts and traveling.