Marlene Hickman
Hi, I’m Marlene, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Florida and licensed in both Florida and New York. I work with young adults, adults, and older adults experiencing anxiety, depression, loneliness, grief and loss, low self-esteem, family conflict, and relationship challenges.
My goal is to tailor my counseling sessions for each individual to assist them in getting through day-to-day life struggles with less stress, guilt, shame or fear.
With more than 15 years of experience, I have had the privilege of supporting children, adults, homebound individuals, and seniors from diverse backgrounds. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and tailored to each person’s unique needs and goals. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, strength-based approaches, and psychodynamic therapy to help clients understand their emotions, develop effective coping skills, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change. I am a Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy Professional and a Certified Grief-Informed Professional. Together, we can create a safe and supportive space where you feel heard, process life’s challenges, and take practical steps toward feeling better.
First session
During our first session, we will begin with brief introductions and then explore the specific challenges that brought you to therapy. We will discuss your needs, strengths, and goals so that I can develop a personalized treatment plan to guide our work together in future sessions.
Strengths
I am passionate about supporting people through life’s most difficult moments. My honest, personable, and compassionate approach—combined with active listening—allows me to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard and understood. I find it deeply rewarding to help individuals recognize their strengths, overcome challenges, and become the best versions of themselves.
Ideal clients
I am passionate about supporting young adults and older adults, including seniors. My primary areas of focus are anxiety and depression. I help clients understand their emotions, develop practical coping skills, recognize personal strengths, build resilience, and improve their overall emotional well-being. Through compassionate, individualized care, I support each person in creating meaningful, lasting change in daily life and relationships.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients manage anxiety and depression. CBT can help you approach overwhelming problems in a more manageable and constructive way by breaking them into smaller parts. Together, we identify unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior, develop healthier coping strategies, and make practical changes that can improve how you feel and function in your daily life.
Daialectical Behavior (DBT)
I am certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and use DBT techniques to help clients develop mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Mindfulness teaches you to focus on the present moment while becoming more aware of your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and impulses without judgment. These skills can help you manage difficult emotions and respond to life’s challenges more effectively. As a Certified Grief-Informed Professional, I also provide compassionate support to individuals coping with grief, loss, and major life transitions. I offer a safe and supportive space to process emotions, adjust to change, and move forward at your own pace.
Eclectic
I use an eclectic, client-centered approach that draws from multiple therapeutic methods to meet each client’s unique needs, experiences, and treatment goals.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I utilize mindfulness-based therapy to help clients develop present-moment awareness through practices such as meditation and deep-breathing exercises. These techniques can reduce stress, calm overwhelming emotions, and support a greater sense of balance and well-being.
Location
Virtual sessions