About Marlene
Marlene Norwood is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in California. She brings 20 years of clinical experience to sessions and focuses on practical help for everyday struggles.
Background and approach
Marlene uses a calm, respectful approach that centers the person's goals and strengths. She listens first and asks simple questions to understand what's most pressing.
Then she offers strategies that fit the person's life. That can mean breaking problems into small steps, learning new ways to manage anxiety, or building clearer communication habits.
Marlene blends client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral techniques. She helps people notice unhelpful thinking patterns and try different behaviors to test what works.
Mindfulness exercises are used to reduce overwhelm and improve focus when helpful. Motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques guide short-term change and goal setting.
These approaches are useful when someone wants fast, practical gains like improving sleep, managing mood, or coping with life transitions. Her work covers a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, self-esteem, career questions, depression, coping with life changes, LGBT topics, relationship and family issues, grief, eating concerns, parenting, anger, coaching, and ADHD.
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
How Marlene’s approaches translate to online care
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the person's priorities. Online sessions let Marlene ask about what matters most and tailor each meeting to the individual's pace and goals.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and try small behavioral experiments. In video or phone sessions she can teach simple CBT tools, assign brief exercises, and review progress the next meeting.
Mindfulness practice teaches steady attention to the present moment and reduces reactivity. Short guided mindfulness exercises work well in live chat, text check-ins, or during a video session to help reduce anxiety and improve focus.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Marlene discusses options and adjusts methods based on the person's goals, life demands, and preferences rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan.
Online formats offer practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skill teaching and role practice. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for brief check-ins. Live chat and text messaging suit short updates, coaching-style support, or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, parenting, or travel schedules.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Marlene help with?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What is her background and experience?
Where is she licensed and located?
Can sessions be held in languages other than English?
What session formats are available?
How does cost and billing work?
How do I begin working with her?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
Also works with
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Coaching
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Relationship issues
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English