- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship patterns
- CBT and attachment
About Marlene
Marlene Smith is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor in West Virginia with 3 years of clinical experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. She also addresses related areas such as adoption and foster care, attachment issues, body image, and communication problems.
Marlene uses straightforward conversation to help people sort through what matters most right now. Sessions are practical and centered on what the client wants to change. She listens, reflects, and works with clients to try new ways of handling stressful moments and relationship strains.
Her approach draws on methods that focus on how people connect with others and how thoughts and behaviors influence feelings. That can mean looking at patterns in relationships, trying small behavior shifts, or practicing emotion regulation skills. The work often includes discussing past experiences that affect current trust and closeness.
Marlene has supported people dealing with life transitions like separation, caregiving for aging relatives, and the aftermath of traumatic events. She also works with issues tied to parenthood, divorce, and chronic health concerns such as cancer. Conversations can cover practical coping skills as well as the relational side of these stresses.
People meeting with Marlene can expect clear feedback and concrete steps to try between sessions. To begin, clients complete a short questionnaire and schedule an initial session to set goals and plan next steps.
How her approaches translate to online work
Attachment-based work looks at how early and recent relationships shape current trust and closeness. Online sessions can include talking through relationship patterns and practicing different ways of connecting with others. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. In remote sessions this often means identifying unhelpful thinking, testing new behaviors, and using short exercises between meetings.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust based on what helps. That collaboration helps decide whether to emphasize relational exploration or practical skills at any point.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a work or study schedule, reduce travel time, and allow brief check-ins when needed. Some formats may be better for practicing skills without video, while others support deeper emotional conversation on camera. Discussing preferences during the first appointment helps match format to the work you want to do.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Listed in
West Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include adoption and foster care, attachment issues, body image, and communication problems.
What style of therapy does she use?
She blends client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and attachment-informed work. That means conversations plus actionable skills to try between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She holds an LPC credential and has three years of professional experience practicing in clinical settings.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is an LPC licensed in West Virginia and sees clients from that state.
Can non-US or international clients work with her?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking to know whether phone or video sessions are offered.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.