Marika Peckham, LCSW
Adults:
Marika’s approach helps to promote immediate relief of suffering by providing individuals with tools for coping with current struggles, combined with insight oriented work aimed at exploring and understanding the interrelations between life experiences and current struggles. Marika and her clients have found this to be a beneficial approach to leading a happier and more fulfilling life. Insight oriented therapy is a method to find out why you behave the way you do. This helps not only with the surface symptoms but also with core issues. Without finding out the core issues, surface symptoms such as anxiety or depression can be replaced by other symptoms or return at a later time. Individuals who feel sad or worry gain tools to cope while also understanding what made them feel that way in the first place. If you are having difficulty going through a day, adjusting to a new situation or relationships, Marika would love to hear from you. She is also trained with EMDR therapy which is recognized as an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD. Marika takes an active approach in the therapy process, partnering with her client’s in creating lasting change. This is accomplished by personalizing the therapy approach to meet the unique needs of each individual she works with. With couples, she often works as an “interpreter” to help them understand each other as well as to find ways to work through the couple’s differences. Through this process, couples heal their pains and are able to nurture their love and care for each other.
Parents:
Parenting is a tough job yet it’s so essential to children’s growth! Sometimes people feel so isolated through the process of parenting, too. Many of her parent clients commented that their children’s biggest improvements was made through parenting sessions. Parents partner with Marika learning about their child’s challenges and ways to modify their parenting to accommodate their children’s needs. She addresses with parents of their daily parenting challenges with concrete ideas while identifying how to foster a child’s strength. Marika also offers support with the children’s academic needs such as IEP and 504. She guides parents with how to request, read, or modify IEP or 504. She also offers participation to IEP as well as classroom observations.
Children:
“Something magical happens here…” is how an 8 years old girl and her mother described Marika’s therapy. Children, especially younger ones cannot use words to describe their struggles. Parents often feel helpless not knowing how to help their children with their emotional or behavioral challenges. Marika utilizes play and Sandplay therapy to understand those struggles, empowering children to work through their problems, gain self-confidence, and learn coping tools. Parents partner with Marika learning about their child’s challenges and ways to modify their parenting to accommodate their children’s needs. Marika also serves as a child advocate by communicating to teachers or participating to IEP. - Currently she is currently only doing online sessions therefore she cannot provide office-based play therapy for children. If your child wish to participate in talk therapy via internet, she can work with your child.
Teens:
Many teens have worked with well with Marika as they feel that they found someone that understands their inner struggles, and were able to find solutions to challenges they face such as family or peer relations, academic or athletic pressures, eating and body image issues. They felt that she is a great advocate for them. Parents also valued understanding their teens better through family sessions as Marika works with teens on how to approach parents to improve their communication and relationships.