Marina Garavaglia

Maybe you look like you’re doing okay on the outside, but inside you feel anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of yourself. Maybe you’re navigating early adulthood and wondering, “Am I making the right choices? Why does everyone else seem to have this figured out?” Or perhaps you’re struggling with relationships, boundaries, self-esteem, or patterns you keep repeating even though you know they aren’t working.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years of experience working with children, teens, adults, and older adults. I especially enjoy working with young adults as they navigate identity, relationships, independence, career decisions, and the often-unexpected challenges of becoming an adult.

My background also includes crisis counseling in Chicago emergency rooms, where I supported people experiencing acute emotional and psychiatric crises and helped connect them with appropriate levels of care. That experience taught me how to remain calm and compassionate when life feels overwhelming.

My approach combines psychodynamic, CBT, and humanistic therapy. I want to understand not only what you're struggling with today, but also the experiences and patterns that brought you here. At the same time, we'll work toward practical changes that can help you feel more confident, grounded, and in control of your life.

Starting therapy can feel a little awkward and even intimidating, especially if you've never been in therapy before. You may be wondering what you're supposed to say, whether you'll be judged, or how you're going to explain everything that's been going on. You don't need to prepare a perfect explanation—and you don't have to have it all figured out before we meet.

During our first session, we'll spend some time getting to know each other and talking about what brought you to therapy. I'll ask questions about what's been happening in your life, what you're struggling with, and what you'd like to be different. We'll also talk about your background and any experiences that may help me better understand what you're going through.

Most importantly, I want the first session to feel like a conversation—not an interrogation. You can share as much or as little as you're comfortable with. My goal is to create a space where you can be honest without worrying about being judged.

We'll also begin talking about what you hope to get from therapy and how we might work together toward those goals. Sometimes you'll leave the first session with a clear sense of what you want to work on; other times, we may need a little more time to figure that out. There is no expectation that we solve everything in one session.

Think of our first meeting as the beginning of getting to know each other. My hope is that you leave feeling heard, understood, and perhaps a little less alone with whatever brought you through the door.