Marie Miller

I have been a social worker for 26 years, working in nursing home and hospital settings, as well as experience in Child Protective Services, middle/high school social work, and Domestic Violence work as a Legal Team Leader. I returned to Widener University to obtain my Master's degree in 2015, and have been working as a clinical social worker for almost 5 years, not including 2.5 supervised as an LMSW-CC. My broad range of experience prior to beginning outpatient counseling has proven helpful in many ways throughout my counseling career. I am working to become certified in EMDR in the next few months, and am excited to add this to my offerings alongside more traditional evidence based practices of motivational interviewing and CBT.

My approach to therapy is strengths based and client centered. I believe in the relational aspect of counseling as a necessary component to best client outcomes. I am open-minded and believe that the best expert on each client is themselves. I work to empower and elevate each of my clients, however, do not back away from gentle challenging and honest, objective reflection in the relationship. I approach therapy with the opinion that the client is the one who is doing the hard work, and I am there to support that journey.

In our first session, I like to hear what each client is bringing to their therapy experience in terms of who you are as a human, as well as what your perception of your need for therapy is in this moment. I obtain a thorough biopsychosocial assessment, often through a narrative style conversation, with additional clarification as needed. I speak with client about expectations and clarify my own approach, and then make a plan for further treatment if both the client and I are in agreement. I work to set each person at ease, and begin to build a relationship, as therapy is difficult and it is important to talk to a clinician you feel you can trust.