Marshneil Lal

The experiences that shape us most aren't always obvious. Sometimes, they take root quietly, in the rules we learn to live by, the relationships that change how we see ourselves, and the ways we adapt to survive environments that leave little room for who we really are. Whether you're working through childhood wounds, the lasting impact of a toxic or high-control relationship, or a season of profound uncertainty that left you feeling unrecognizable to yourself, I offer a calm, steady space to begin finding your way back.

My work is grounded in Internal Family Systems — an approach built on the understanding that we are all made up of different parts, each carrying its own history, its own protective role, and its own quiet wisdom. Rather than fighting the parts of yourself that feel difficult or overwhelming, we learn to understand them, approaching them with curiosity instead of shame. That shift from self-criticism toward self-compassion is often where real healing begins.

I've worked with people coming out of highly controlled, high-pressure environments — and nothing you bring into this room will shock or destabilize me. I remain steady not because I'm detached, but because what people in these situations need most is someone who can hold the full weight of what they've been through and respond with calm, considered presence.

I have a particular passion for supporting people through pregnancy, postpartum, & new parenthood, seasons carrying deep joy alongside grief, anxiety, identity shifts, and an intensity that rarely gets spoken about honestly enough. I work with individuals navigating perinatal mood disorders, intrusive thoughts, birth trauma, fertility struggles, and pregnancy loss.

My practice is trauma-informed, gender-affirming, and culturally aware, with a deep commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community, first-generation individuals, and those healing from high-control environments.

My approach is shaped as much by lived experience as by clinical training. Growing up in a collectivist culture in Fiji gave me a deep understanding of identity, belonging, and the particular exhaustion of feeling caught between worlds — and that understanding informs everything about how I show up for clients navigating cultural identity, first-generation pressures, and the grief of not quite fitting anywhere. I hold that space with both personal understanding and genuine respect.

I draw on IFS, CBT, DBT, and ACT — but the approach is never formulaic. What guides each session is you: your values, your history, the coping strategies you've already built, and the resilience that brought you here. I'll look not just at what's hurting, but at what's already working. I bring warmth and genuine curiosity alongside honest, considered challenge — the kind that opens things up rather than closes them down.

The first session is less about having answers and more about beginning to understand what you're actually working with. I'll want to hear what brought you in, what your life looks like right now, and what has — and hasn't — helped before. I won't rush toward conclusions or hand you a plan before I've truly listened.

What you'll notice from the start is that I'm present and unhurried. I ask questions that open things up. I reflect what I'm noticing, and I offer perspective when the moment calls for it — carefully, not reflexively. Sessions won't feel like a worksheet. They'll feel like a conversation with purpose, shaped entirely by your pace and your life. Meaningful change is possible. I'd be honored to be part of it.