Marianna Birdsong
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.
My path to becoming a therapist has been diverse, encompassing roles such as an Emergency Medical Technician, massage therapist, and peer counselor.
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.
First session
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.
Strengths
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.
Ideal clients
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.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
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.
Strength-Based
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 Therapy
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 (DBT)
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
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.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 119127
- FloridaLicense TPSW4174