Andrea Marino

I believe it is our birthright to each embody and express our fullest self. It's the joy and gift of being alive. But life experiences, stress, worry, and trauma can block and diminish this. It is my aim to help my clients remove those blocks, so they can flourish and thrive.

I feel honored to support people on their journey. No one exists in a vacuum. We all need support.

I've witnessed the vulnerability, grit, strength, courage, resilience, and determination of people in extremely compromised circumstances - veterans experiencing homelessness, people surviving cancer, people rebuilding life after incarceration or natural disaster, people facing their addictions or the demons of their childhood abuse. I've seen first-hand the miracles that happen when someone gets support to move through their obstacles and reclaim their life. I feel honored to have seen the transformation from debilitation to engaging in life anew. The liberation is a very real and beautiful thing. That's what inspires me.

Training and Influences:

My 2-yr. conservatory training in acting and movement initially motivated me to get my Master's in Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy. It became clear that we can get grounded and move through internal obstacles by cultivating breath/body connection and attuning to our senses and sensations.

My training and influences include: Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Polyvagal Theory, Expressive Arts Therapy, Meisner Acting, Williamson Movement, Linklater Breath-work. Also, my own travels and studies in Chinese, Hindu, and Buddhist healing arts. I continue to train in trauma interventions and integrative studies to best serve my clients.

I come from a place of compassion and connection. The journey is yours, and you are the expert on your own lived experiences. I'm here to support you and to help facilitate insights, growth, and self-discovery. I am present, real, and down-to-earth. I offer inquisitive non-judgemental curiosity in what you share. I listen actively and attentively and offer reflections where helpful.

I also facilitate breath-body exercises, somatic tools, and guided visualizations to help you get centered, shift emotional patterns, move through blocks, and release trauma triggers.

I can also incorporate Expressive Arts Therapy to help deepen self-discovery and tap into insights beyond the cognitive level. This is process-oriented, not product-oriented and requires no art skill or training on your part. It could include visual (color on paper, collage, etc.), music, drama/role play, movement, storytelling... exploration through creative expression. We don't have to include this in your sessions. But I will say that some of my clients who had the most cynicism about this, once they tried it, had the most powerful experiences with it.

In our first session, we'll get to know each other a bit. I want you to be able to settle into feeling comfortable with me. I'll ask some questions and give you the space to share - what's going on for you, what brought you to therapy, some of your pertinent history, what issues or patterns are presenting, what you're hoping to work through or get out of our time together.

Each person's experience of therapy will be unique. I don't recommend bringing firm expectations to therapy for how it will go. It's a process that reveals new truths, challenges, and triumphs to you along the way. Staying present and open to the process is how to get the most out of it.

That said, it is an open and collaborative process between you, the one who has actually lived your own experiences, and me, there to support you as a trained professional. Your transparency is helpful about what you are seeking to gain, what has worked or not worked for you in therapy in the past, and what kind of support you'd like from me.