Marilyn earned her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University and her Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Psychology, from Saint Leo University. She completed her internship at an inpatient psychiatric hospital and has since worked in community-based mental health. Marilyn is a Qualified Parent Coordinator and a Supreme Court of Florida Certified Family Mediator. She is an advocate at heart and is dedicated to helping those facing challenges and difficult transitions while advocating for children during the divorce process.

Marilyn has experience working with adults, adolescents and families in the following areas:

• Abuse/Neglect/Child Welfare
• Adoption Trauma
• Anxiety/OCD
• Behavior/ODD
• Parent Coordination 
• Couples/Marriage Counseling
• Depression
• Family Conflict
• Loss/Grief
• Parenting methods Psychoeducation
• Trauma/PTSD

 
Marilyn is bilingual, fluent in Spanish, and uses a therapeutic approach called Reality-Based Therapy. This approach is a client-centered form of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy that focuses on improving present relationships and circumstances. Marilyn offers an empathetic and nonjudgmental environment where her clients feel safe in revealing their feelings or actions that have led to stress or tension within their life.

Marilyn previously worked with the Tampa State Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance program as a victim counselor. She also worked as a Director of Social Services in the nursing home industry focusing on the overall mental health and well-being of the elderly population.

Marilyn is passionate about her career. She considers the most important need in an individual’s life is the need to be loved and to have a sense of belonging. Once this is met then all other basic needs can be satisfied by building strong connections with others. She believes that while we cannot control how we feel, we can control how we think and behave. Therefore, everyone has the ability to change and take control of improving their own lives through learning to make better choices.