About Marnie
I’m a Calgary-based psychotherapist and registered social worker with a Master of Social Work. I am fully licensed to practice in Alberta and licenced to practice virtually in Ontario. Before becoming a therapist, I had a successful career as a lawyer, working in different cities and settings. While I enjoyed my work, over time I felt drawn to helping people in a deeper, more personal way, which ultimately led me to become a psychotherapist. Today, I work with adults and couples navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain, relationship issues and trauma. My work is grounded in an understanding of attachment theory, emotions and the mind-body connection.
I offer both virtual and in person appointments and currently maintain two comfortable and accessible offices in southwest and northwest Calgary.
Challenges You May Be Facing
Discover Common Areas of Practice
You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected or struggling with symptoms that are affecting your relationships, health, work
or sense of self. My areas of practice include:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Chronic pain and other mind-body symptoms
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Relationship difficulties
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Trauma
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Self- Esteem
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Grief and loss
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Life transitions
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Perfectionism
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Stress and burnout
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Workplace issues
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Early attachment wounds
Therapy that goes beyond symptom relief- helping you
reconnect with who you are beneath the struggles.
Specialized Training
I have specialized training in several therapeutic approaches which I integrate into my work depending on your unique needs and circumstances. Two approaches in particular inform my work: Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) and Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT).
ISTDP is a focused, experiential form of psychodynamic therapy that helps people break through emotional barriers, process underlying feelings and resolve the root causes of both psychological and physical symptoms. It is an active and collaborative approach that supports people in overcoming self-defeating patterns and building their capacity to tolerate anxiety and complex feelings. ISTDP has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, chronic pain and trauma.
PRT is an evidence-based mind-body approach designed to reduce or eliminate chronic pain or other symptoms by retraining the brain to interpret harmless bodily sensations as safe rather than dangerous. When symptoms persist long after they should have resolved, they are often caused by learned neural pathways and the brain's predictions of danger rather than structural damage. PRT helps you learn to respond to symptoms differently and develop a greater sense of safety in your body, allowing symptoms to diminish over time.
Other specialized approaches that I incorporate into my work include:
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Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET)
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy- Level 2
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Emotion-Focused Therapy
What to Expect in Therapy
The therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy, which is why finding a therapist you click with is so important. I strive to create a space that is compassionate, collaborative, open, safe and non-judgmental- where we can explore together the difficulties and patterns that may be getting in the way of your life, relationships, work or well-being. Many of these patterns were formed early in life and operate automatically, outside of awareness. Therapy helps bring these into focus—so you can understand them and consciously choose what, if anything, you want to change. At the end of the day, you are the expert of your own experience, and I will approach our work together with respect, curiosity and care.
Therapy can feel difficult at times, especially at the beginning, as painful emotions, anxiety, chronic symptoms or longstanding patterns begin to surface. This is a natural part of the process, and I will support you with compassion and encouragement as we work together toward healing and meaningful change.
I typically see clients weekly or biweekly to start, adjusting the frequency together over time as needed.
Fees
Individual session: $220.00 / 1 hour
Couples session: $220.00 / 1 hour