Dr. Marla Vannucci

Licensed Psychologist

Therapy is a collaborative process, and I view the client as the expert on themselves and their experiences. The specific style or approach I take is customized for each client. I generally think about therapy work as taking place on one or more of three levels. The deepest level includes experiences like trauma, family of origin, attachment - stuff that has a historical element but long lasting impact. Not everyone needs to work at the deepest level, but exploring history can sometimes help us understand the present and have greater control over our choices in the present. The middle level is patterns of relating to others and ourselves - how we think and feel about ourselves, how we interpret events, and how we tend to respond. While these patterns are typically rooted in the deeper level, sometimes we work at the level of the patterns themselves and aim to change those patterns. The top level includes things like coping, communication, anxiety management skills, daily life habits, etc. While these top level experiences are of course rooted in the deepest level and also can be patterned, sometimes focusing on developing coping skills or communication skills can have a huge impact. These three levels are useful in guiding my work with individuals and with couples, and I usually explain this way of thinking so that we can decide together where the work should focus. We can also move among these levels and shift our focus as our work together progresses.

I always felt rewarded by helping people and I was always a good listener. Like most therapists, my own family history and experiences of trauma have shaped who I am as a person and a therapist. Spending time in my own therapist has helped me grow to a place where I can be a thoughtful and focused helper, supporting my clients in making sense of their own experiences. Additionally, when I was in college, my roommate attempted suicide. A psychologist at the college counseling center was incredibly helpful to me and my roommate's other close friends who were coping with her depression and feeling helpless in knowing how to support her. This psychologist became a mentor to me and helped me know that psychology was the path for me. And my dear friend/former roommate is great and has overcome her depression, in case you were wondering how the story ended...