Hillary Marshall, MSW, LICSW
hillary@affinitypsych.com
Hi! I’m Hillary and I am so happy you are here! You are officially taking the first step into your journey of growth and healing, which is often the hardest step to take, and I am here with you for it! I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. I work with teens, adults and families and have a special interest in helping others work through trauma and uncomfortable emotions using a variety of techniques including Brainspotting and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Aside from all the fancy lingo, my passion really lies in helping others feel better, lighter, and more in control. I want to work with you to find what will be most helpful for you in this moment of your life, because therapy is not a ‘one size fits all’. I want to hear your story, get to know YOU, and help you become the best version of yourself, you deserve it!!
How I Work
As a therapist, I am kind, compassionately direct, genuine, humorous, transparent, and just a little bit feisty (in all the best ways). My approach is client-centered and relational, focusing first on creating a comfortable and safe space and then working together to determine what to work on, grow from, challenge or change and how to reach that goal.
As humans, we interact with the world through our mental representation of it, meaning our experiences throughout our life shape how we act, think and feel about ourselves, others and the world. Sometimes these experiences can cause us to think and feel in ways that are untrue, resulting in distorted thought patterns and an increase in worry and anxiety. Through working together, we will reflect on the influence of past experiences and practice new thought patterns to improve your overall life journey.
I am trained in Brainspotting and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which are brain-based therapy modalities, or tools, that help to reprocess negative events and retrain your emotional reactions. This type of therapy is helpful if you have experienced trauma, significant stress, have difficulty regulating your emotions, or experience significant anxiety.
What Sets Me Apart As a Therapist?
Clients have told me I am genuine, easy to talk to, understanding, and will challenge them in unique ways that help them to reach a deeper level of healing and change. I will ask the hard questions, provide insight, and push you out of your comfort zone (yes, it can be uncomfortable, but it is where the magic happens). I tend to jump in and dig deep quickly while respecting each client’s pace and process. You can count on me to show up as my authentic, often energetic self with a pretty sweet basket of fidgets (…because who doesn’t like to keep their hands busy when talking about intense stuff?). I am here for my clients and truly care. I can’t wait to meet you and hear your story.
