Licensed to practice in 2 states and accepts 59 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Military/Veterans and 10 more.
Clients say this provider is
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.
Cash - $150 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
Evernorth
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
IHSS Healthy Workers
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Sutter Health Plan
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
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.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps people process upsetting, traumatic, or stressful memories that still feel emotionally “stuck.” During EMDR, the person briefly focuses on a difficult memory while doing bilateral stimulation, such as moving the eyes from side to side, alternating tapping, or listening to sounds that alternate between the left and right sides. The goal is not to erase the memory, but to help the brain process it so the memory becomes less emotionally intense and less triggering.
3 ratings with written reviews
January 16, 2026
I was nervous to talk to her at first, but she was very welcoming.
September 17, 2025
She made me feel comfortable and not overwhelmed. She made me feel that we can take the time to find a solution and take care of one thing at a time rather than pile it all on. I like that it didn’t feel like the same repetitive questions as to some therapist I have interacted with before.
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!