LCSW, 9 years of experience
Greetings, I'm Marianna Birdsong, an LCSW situated in Southern California, offering telehealth services statewide. My practice specializes in aiding adults facing anxiety, stress, and life transitions through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Client-Centered Therapy, tailored to meet individual needs. I believe therapy should be customized for each client. I primarily employ CBT and Client-Centered Therapy but remain flexible to adapt techniques as required.
During our initial session, we'll begin with short introductions and then delve into the specific issues you are encountering. This approach will enable me to develop a tailored plan for our subsequent sessions.
My path to becoming a therapist has been diverse, encompassing roles such as an Emergency Medical Technician, massage therapist, and peer counselor. Through these experiences, I've developed a deep appreciation for helping others achieve personal growth and self-awareness. Thank you for allowing me to share my story and approach. If you have any questions or wish to delve deeper into any aspect, please don't hesitate to reach out.
My practice caters to adults navigating daily stressors and significant life changes, often manifesting as anxiety or depression. I guide clients through these challenges, equipping them with skills to foster self-improvement and a positive mindset.
I’ve been using CBT in my practice for the past five years. It’s helped dozens of clients challenge reoccurring thoughts and manage their anxiety. We’ll use CBT to recognize how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We’ll then use that knowledge to change your thinking patterns, which will help you lead a less anxious and stressed life.
With its foundation in social work, the strength-based approach is a “work practice theory” that focuses on an individual’s self-determination and strength. The strength-based approach is centered around the idea that the client is the actor or agent of change. The approach is highly dependent on how the individual processes their thoughts and emotions. It allows for open communication, encouraging individuals to identify value and assemble their strengths and capacities.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, MBCT, is a modified form of cognitive therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices that include present moment awareness, meditation, and breathing exercises. This therapy was formulated to address depression. Using these tools, the mindfulness-based therapist teaches a client to be in the here and now as well as break away from negative thought patterns that can cause a decline into a mood-disordered state; this therapy can help a person fight off a difficult frame of mind before it takes hold.
Dialectical behavior therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy that began with efforts to treat personality disorders and interpersonal conflicts. Evidence suggests that DBT can be useful in treating mood disorders and suicidal ideation as well as for changing behavioral patterns such as self-harm and substance use.
1 rating with written reviews
May 9, 2025
Marianna has helped me change my mindset a lot, I suffer from a lot of anxiety all of the therapy I’ve done with her has helped me in my day to day tasks. She’s awesome!