- Client-centered care
- Skills-based methods
- Trauma-informed tools
About Marla
Marla Anderson is a Licensed Professional Counselor who centers her work on the person in front of her. She focuses on clear, practical steps to ease stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, anger, and low self-esteem. Marla uses straightforward talk and listening to help people make changes that matter in day-to-day life.
Marla began in school counseling and moved toward licensed practice starting in 2018, completing the transition to full-time LPC work in June 2021. She brings seven years of LPC experience and a longer history working with children and adults across many settings. That range means she is used to adapting sessions to fit different ages and life stages.
In sessions she draws on Client-Centered Therapy to follow the client's lead and build strong working relationships. She also uses techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach skills for managing thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Marla has training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and integrates those tools when appropriate for trauma-related concerns.
Her background includes supporting people facing abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, attachment concerns, blended family stress, and the challenges that come with chronic illness or caregiving. She also helps with codependency, substance-related problems, communication struggles, and the fallout from separation or domestic violence.
Marla approaches each person with respect and sensitivity. She collaborates on a plan built around individual needs and goals. If you prefer a direct, empathetic counselor who uses both talk and practical skills, her style may fit your needs.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy places the person’s experience first and focuses on empathy and listening. In online work this means sessions prioritize the client's concerns and move at the client's pace, with the therapist following the person's lead to set goals.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns. Online CBT often uses simple homework, thought records, and skill practice between sessions to reduce anxiety and improve coping.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal skills. Delivered online, DBT-style skills teaching can help people manage intense emotions, reduce impulsive behaviors, and improve communication in daily life.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose or adjust methods based on needs, goals, and preferences. That shared decision-making helps match techniques such as CBT exercises or DBT skills to the situation at hand.
Session formats are not specified in the provided biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also supports continuity of care when life circumstances change, while letting a therapist use tools like skill sheets, guided exercises, and gradual exposure work across sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Credentials
Texas
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What problems does Marla help people with?
She helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, low self-esteem, and difficulties coping with life changes. Additional focuses include codependency, attachment concerns, blended family issues, chronic illness, and communication problems.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a client-centered approach and pairs it with skills-based methods from CBT and DBT. Sessions tend to combine listening, practical skill teaching, and collaborative planning.
How much experience does she have?
She holds seven years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor and earlier worked in school counseling before transitioning fully to LPC practice in 2021.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with licensure in Texas and practices there.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are session costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps do I take to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.