About Me

Marilyn smiles as she looks off to the right. She is wearing a brown shirt and holding a blue coffee mug with both hands. Her long, dark blonde hair is down, she is seated on a dark green couch, and a white brick/stone wall is behind her.

Hello and welcome! I'm Marilyn, a licensed clinical social worker based in Austin, TX.

I'm a nurturer at heart and endlessly curious about people. My work is grounded in the belief that pain, loss, and injustice are real parts of life, and that healing begins when our experiences are met with honesty, compassion, and understanding rather than judgment or minimization.

My own experience in therapy has shaped both who I am and how I show up in this work. Through that process, I learned to speak more honestly, make room for difficult emotions, set healthier boundaries, and trust that real connection can withstand hard conversations.

I strive to create a space where people feel safe enough to show up exactly as they are.

My clients may describe me as warm, thoughtful, and insightful. I bring gentleness and honesty to the therapy space. I'm not afraid of big emotions, complicated histories, or messy situations.

This work matters deeply to me and I take my role seriously. I prioritize ongoing training, consultation, and transparency, and I welcome feedback throughout the therapeutic process.

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Marilyn is seated on a green couch with a yellow blanket across the back & a brown throw pillow with a green and blue flower. She is smiling at the camera, with both hands holding a coffee cup, resting on top of her knee.

I have extensive experience supporting adolescents, young adults, and their families.

I specialize in working with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms, especially those seeking to understand how past experiences shape the present, increase self-compassion and self-acceptance, and build a greater sense of joy and connection in their lives.

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My approach is grounded in an attachment-focused, trauma-informed, and social justice perspective.

I offer inclusive, affirming care rooted in an anti-oppressive lens and a deep respect for each person’s dignity, safety, belonging, and self-expression. I know I won’t always get it right, but I strive to practice with humility, remain accountable, and repair when mistakes happen.

Marilyn is smiling at the camera, seated on stone steps with stone walls around her and a handrail on the right. She wears a brown shirt and shoes, dark pants, and her hair is pulled back.
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And here's a bit about me outside of the therapy room:

I’m a choir nerd, a mom to a toddler daughter, and I live with two cats who run the house. Outside of work, I’m usually trying to get outside, listening to live music when I can, or wandering through a thrift store I didn’t plan on stopping at. I have a soft spot for baked treats and anything that smells good.

What is therapy with you like?

Therapy with me is supportive and collaborative. We will discuss what you are currently struggling with and your hopes/goals for therapy. We will check in regularly about if sessions are feeling right for you and your needs from the therapeutic space. The therapeutic relationship is a way to practice giving and receiving feedback, asking for help, expressing needs, repairing ruptures, etc.

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What types of therapy do you offer?

I work with adults and adolescents (typically ages 12+), both virtually and locally in Austin, in individual therapy, and also offer family therapy and parent support. I support a range of emotional, relational, and mental health concerns, and also provide EMDR therapy.

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Marilyn smiles at the camera, standing in front of a stone wall with green trees in the background. She holds books, is wearing a brwown shirt, and her dark blonde hair is down.
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Credentials and Training:

Education:

  • Master of Science in Social Work
    The University of Texas at Austin

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
    The University of Texas at Austin

  • Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies
    The University of Texas at Austin

Work History:

Before opening my practice, I worked in community based services and developed expertise in family therapy, addiction and substance use treatment, intimate partner violence, and crisis mental health.

LifeWorks, Psychiatric Emergency Services, National Domestic Violence Hotline/Love is Respect, Parenting in Recovery/Family Drug Treatment Court

Advanced Training:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Overview and Interventions (ACT)

  • Eating Disorder Training Group with Neathy Thurmond, LCSW-S

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Trained (EMDR)

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Internal Family Systems Online Circle (Introductory training)

  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)

  • Motivational Interviewing Certificate of Completion 

  • Trust Based Relational Intervention Trained (TBRI)

Licensure:

LCSW-S, #66735, Licensed in Texas

Marilyn smiles at the camera, standing in front of a stone wall with green trees in the background. She holds books, is wearing a brwown shirt, and her dark blonde hair is down.

Credentials and Training:

Education:

  • Master of Science in Social Work
    The University of Texas at Austin

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
    The University of Texas at Austin

  • Bachelor of Arts in Women and Gender Studies
    The University of Texas at Austin

Work History:

Before opening my practice, I worked in community based services and developed expertise in family therapy, addiction and substance use treatment, intimate partner violence, and crisis mental health.

LifeWorks, Psychiatric Emergency Services, National Domestic Violence Hotline/Love is Respect, Parenting in Recovery/Family Drug Treatment Court

Advanced Training:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Overview and Interventions (ACT)

  • Eating Disorder Training Group with Neathy Thurmond, LCSW-S

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Trained (EMDR)

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Internal Family Systems Online Circle (Introductory training)

  • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)

  • Motivational Interviewing Certificate of Completion 

  • Trust Based Relational Intervention Trained (TBRI)

Licensure:

LCSW-S, #66735, Licensed in Texas

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Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me.

I look forward to connecting if and when the time feels right.

Three fingerpaint-like smudges of color sit next to each other--one is salmon pink, one is dark gray, and the third is a light cream color. All on a yellow background that matches the website section background.