Licensed to practice in California and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Career Counseling, Life Transitions and 6 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Welcome to my practice and to your journey. I am Marianna Jakucska, licensed psychotherapist (LMFT 84050), creative life coach, and immigration psychological evaluator in California. Before you wonder, my accent is Hungarian. Yes, I speak Hungarian and you are welcome to use your native Hungarian in sessions if you please. My perspective: Be grateful for what you have—and courageous to want more… When you are ready to transform your past into a launchpad for your future, as a solution-focused therapist and a creative life coach, I’m here to support your efforts to bridge where you’ve been with where you’re longing to be. Since 2010, I’ve guided individuals through challenges like trauma, anxiety, depression, and stress management, to move beyond self-preservation and embrace the exploration and experimentation necessary for a truly creative living. I view mental wellness as more than just the absence of distress: it’s a creative mindset. My unique approach blends science, philosophy, symbolism, humor, and storytelling – drawing insights from movies and the arts – to unlock your potential and open your wings to a creative life style. Together, we’ll focus on your inherent strengths and core values, setting ambitious goals to propel you toward your ideals. We clear the path for your growth while healing and transforming emotional wounds that have held you back. Because your mental wellness is your competitive edge
In the first meeting, I am going to gather information about your reasons to do therapy, your goals and expectations about the outcome and my approach to you. I will ask about your basic background situation, such as your childhood, your current life circumstances, substance use (including drugs, alcohol, even caffeine) and past and current suicidal/homicidal thoughts and actions as well as other self-harming behaviors. I welcome you to ask any questions that would make you feel comfortable about our work together. The information that I need from you is in part required by insurance companies but, to a great extent, give me a panoramic view of your life so I can address your concerns more specifically in relation to your needs rather than talking about things in generalities. This way, we'll be more focused and effective in our conversations and interventions. Many people are nervous at the first meeting. It's not easy to open up to a stranger about your deepest vulnerabilities. It's ok to stop me or ask to slow down. We can always address issues in later sessions when you feel more comfortable. Some people like to talk and some people need guiding questions. Just let me know your needs. My therapist-training did not include mind reading exercises :>) but I can hear your voice. One thing is for sure: You will have to come in with your own questions and issues you want to resolve. I will not tell you what you are doing wrong or what is wrong in your life. A life is a life, no right or wrong way of living so long as you can live with your choices and happy with them. You tell me what you want to change - and we can figure out alternatives.
My approach is interactive: I listen, summarize and clarify to make sure I've heard you correctly. I interpret your experiences against the backdrop of a human developmental timeline. I explain depression and anxiety, and likely other of your experiences, as a normal, albeit often uncomfortable, response to adapt to a situation that your mind perceives. Your behavior will make sense once you understand how a human brain operates to create a reality and generates behavior to handle that reality for the sake of your survival. The resulting persona may not be pretty or socially acceptable - but it is your unique response to your unique circumstances. I hope that understanding yourself will generate compassion toward your Self and who you are, to replace self-judgement. I define mental health as a creative mind seeking to grow, to explore whatever is ahead, through deliberate, well-calculated choices, while considering the odds. The healthy mind possess the courage to face uncertainty - that 99.99% of life.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT informally and formally, as needed. I interpreting your experiences in a developmental context, educate on emotions and thoughts as reflections on reality, not reality itself. I may explain and track cognitive distortions with you via 4-column daily journal, and revise outdated thought patterns to fit reality, growth, and creative problem-solving.
Existential
I look at issues not as pathology but your effort to fit in with a complex social hierarchy. I see anxiety, depression, and all sorts of thought patterns as adaptive to a certain perceived reality that can be changed from instinctive to intentional. I review your choices to life events and how those choices are made to see if we can generate alternatives that fit your needs and values best. I follow the edict of learning skills of serenity to accept things we can't change, develop the responsibility and courage to change what we can, and methods of thinking to tell the difference and gain wisdom.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use it as an adjunct to CBT. I don't provide DBT classes but I am familiar with the method, use the emotional and mindfulness aspect of it more often.