Are you feeling stuck in overthinking, emotional reactivity, or self-doubt—even when you know you’re capable of more? You may feel like your inner critic is running the show, leaving you exhausted or disconnected from yourself. I’m Marsha Hicks-Richards, LCSW, and I help clients move from survival mode into clarity, emotional balance, and self-trust. I believe therapy is an act of courage and self-care, and my role is to support you in reconnecting with your strengths while learning practical tools to navigate life more effectively. My approach is integrative and holistic, blending DBT, CBT, Schema Therapy, inner child work, and mindfulness to support both emotional regulation and deeper healing. I have extensive experience working with individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as those struggling with intense emotions, relationship patterns, anxiety, and self-esteem. Therapy with me is collaborative, grounded, and focused on helping you feel more stable, empowered, and aligned in your daily life.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Your first session is a chance to slow down, get grounded, and feel supported. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what you’ve been struggling with, and what you hope will change—at a pace that feels comfortable for you. I take an integrative approach, blending practical tools from DBT and CBT with deeper insight work, mindfulness, and inner child awareness. You won’t be pressured to share everything at once. Instead, we’ll focus on understanding patterns, building emotional safety, and identifying tools that can help you feel more stable right away. By the end of the session, you may leave with a clearer sense of direction, a grounding or coping strategy, and an understanding of how we’ll work together moving forward. Therapy with me is collaborative, compassionate, and focused on helping you build self-trust, emotional balance, and lasting change.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to help clients access deeper self-understanding through inner-child work. I support clients in gently connecting with parts of themselves that learned to survive through trauma, emotional neglect, or chronic stress, and in developing a compassionate, healing relationship with those parts rather than fighting or suppressing them. I am highly attuned to both verbal and non-verbal communication, paying close attention to tone, body language, and emotional shifts that often reveal what words alone cannot. Clients often share that they feel deeply seen and understood in our work together. I provide a non-judgmental space where your experiences, emotions, and identity are met with respect and dignity. I intentionally set aside my personal beliefs and opinions to ensure therapy remains centered on your values, your lived experience, and your goals. My approach is grounded, compassionate, and integrative—balancing emotional depth with practical tools—so clients can heal at a pace that feels safe while building lasting self-trust and emotional stability.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work best with adults who feel emotionally overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, or disconnected from themselves despite outward success. Many of my clients struggle with overthinking, intense emotions, relationship challenges, self-doubt, or a harsh inner critic. I am especially well-suited to support individuals with trauma histories, attachment wounds, or diagnoses such as Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as those who feel “high-functioning” but internally exhausted. My ideal clients are open to both practical coping tools and deeper self-exploration. You may be seeking emotional regulation, healthier boundaries, improved relationships, or a stronger sense of self. If you’re ready to slow down, build self-trust, and do meaningful inner work at a compassionate, steady pace, we’ll be a good fit.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I have extensive experience using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support clients who struggle with intense emotions, emotional reactivity, relationship instability, and difficulty regulating distress. I frequently work with individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as clients experiencing anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, and chronic self-criticism. My approach to DBT is practical, compassionate, and integrated rather than rigid or overly manualized. I focus on helping clients build real-life skills—such as emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness—while also exploring the deeper emotional patterns and inner-child wounds that often drive reactivity. I tailor DBT tools to each client’s nervous system, readiness, and personal goals. In our work together, DBT skills are introduced in a way that feels supportive and usable, not overwhelming. The goal is to help you feel more stable, confident, and in control of your responses—while also developing a deeper understanding of yourself and your emotional world.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, emotional reactivity, and self-doubt. I often work with clients who feel stuck in cycles of overthinking, self-criticism, avoidance, or procrastination despite strong insight and motivation. My approach to CBT is collaborative, compassionate, and flexible. Rather than simply challenging thoughts, I help clients understand why certain patterns developed and how they are connected to past experiences, core beliefs, and emotional responses. CBT in my work is paired with mindfulness and inner-child awareness so that cognitive change feels supportive rather than harsh or invalidating. Together, we focus on building practical tools that clients can apply in real life—such as reframing negative self-talk, increasing behavioral follow-through, and strengthening self-trust—while also honoring emotional depth. The goal is not just symptom relief, but sustainable change that feels aligned and empowering.
Integrative
I practice an integrative style of therapy, meaning I tailor treatment to the whole person rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. I draw from multiple evidence-based modalities—including DBT, CBT, Schema Therapy, inner child work, psychodynamic insight, and mindfulness—to meet each client where they are emotionally, cognitively, and relationally. My integrative approach allows me to address both present-day symptoms (such as emotional reactivity, anxiety, or relationship stress) and the deeper patterns that shape them, including trauma, attachment wounds, and core beliefs. I pay close attention to verbal and non-verbal cues, pacing sessions in a way that supports nervous system regulation and emotional safety. Therapy with me is collaborative, compassionate, and intentional. Together, we build practical tools for daily life while also creating space for insight and healing at a depth that feels safe and sustainable. My goal is to help clients feel more grounded, self-aware, and empowered—both inside and outside the therapy room.