Dr. Mariella Lauriola Licensed Psychologist

You deserve to feel welcomed, respected and empowered to be whoever you are, at all times and in any relationship you are in. When working with me, my main priority in our therapeutic relationship would be for you to feel safe, unconditionally supported, cared for and understood. If you chose me as a therapist, I would feel honoured and committed to guide you in your own self discovery and self acceptance healing journey.

When therapy is successful, clients might start to appreciate themselves as unique human beings, with very unique needs. More importantly, they might feel and accept that they deserve to fulfil those needs, that they simply are deserving. They might also start prioritizing (and vocalizing) their needs, while feeling that it makes complete sense to do so. Over time, they start to feel that, in fact, they do matter. They might develop a much healthier relationship with themselves as well as others (i.e. partners, friends, family, colleagues etc). People around them might notice the change, too! Clients might say things like “it feels like I am alive again" or "I am not numb anymore, I can feel again!”. I firmly believe that all this wonderful potential is within each single one of us already. My goal and honour as a therapist would simply be to guide you, my client, in this amazingly powerful healing journey.

Have you experienced one (or more) highly stressful/traumatic event and therefore struggling with any of the following symptoms: anxiety, fear, panic attacks, sadness, not feeling safe, intrusive thoughts and memories of the stressful event, disturbing nightmares, shame or guilt? Was the traumatic event the product of being part of an unhealthy relationship with a family member, a romantic partner or group of peers (something called "relational trauma")? Are you an immigrant or a first/second generation Latinx? Do you identify as belonging to the LGBTQ+ community? Do you identify as a woman? If you answered yes to any of the above, I might be a good therapist for you!

• California, Licensed Psychologist, 31868

For the past 10 years I have been working in both research and mental health settings. In particular, I worked at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center during my pre-doctoral training, where I have been trained on performing neuropsychological evaluations (assessment, scoring and presentation of tests results during the family conferences) of patients struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease. During my PhD and after I have been working in several community agencies/mental health settings. Lastly, for the past two years, I have been the lead clinician of a housing program that supports women recovering from trauma and PTSD related symptoms.