Marla Johnson

LMHC

Florida

Warm client-centered counselor focusing on practical change

Continue with Marla

At a glance

Credentials

LMHC

License

LMHC, Florida / MH4583

NPI

1063752715

Experience

25 years

Languages

English

Location

Florida

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

1. • Client-centered care
   • Practical steps
   • Mindful approach

   About Marla

   Marla Johnson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida. She brings 25 years of counseling experience and focuses on helping people facing depression, anxiety, and life transitions. Her style is warm and nonjudgmental, aimed at creating a place where people can speak openly and begin to change.

   She uses a client-centered stance that puts the person's perspective first. That means sessions start with the person's goals and build from their strengths. Solution-focused techniques are part of her work, so she helps identify practical steps clients can take between sessions to notice change and momentum.

   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness practices are mixed into sessions when helpful. CBT is used to spot unhelpful thinking and test new ways of responding. Mindfulness exercises are offered to help manage stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and intense emotions.

   Marla also integrates Motivational Interviewing approaches to support people who want to make changes but feel stuck. This involves listening for what matters to the client and guiding small, doable shifts rather than pushing for change.

   Her background includes a wide variety of concerns such as trauma and abuse, addictions, parenting stress, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, mood disorders, ADHD, and many related areas. She aims to validate each person's experience and work collaboratively toward clearer steps forward.

2. How therapeutic approaches work online

   Marla blends Motivational Interviewing, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to guide change in straightforward ways. Motivational Interviewing focuses on exploring what matters to the person and building motivation for change in small steps. Client-Centered Therapy places the person's perspective and goals at the center of each session and relies on empathy and validation to foster growth. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety, low mood, and sleep problems.
   
   Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to learn about goals, try different techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps. Clients are invited to give feedback and shape the focus of future sessions so the work stays practical and relevant.
   
   The biography does not specify which session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by cutting travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, and making it possible to meet from a convenient location. These practical benefits can help people stay consistent with the work and apply strategies between sessions.

4. Areas of expertise

   Primary focus

   Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseParenting issuesDepression

   Also works with

   AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemBipolar disorderCoping with life changesADHD

   Additional focus areas

   AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Family of origin issuesFamily problemsGuilt and shameImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaYoung adult issues

   Therapeutic approaches

   Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

   Experience

   25+ years

   Listed in

   Florida

   Languages

   English

5. Frequently asked questions

   What kinds of concerns does she address?

   She works with many issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, parenting challenges, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, sleep and eating issues, ADHD, and mood disorders.

   How would you describe her therapeutic style?

   Her approach is client-centered and solution-focused, using warmth and validation to help people set goals and take practical steps. She also uses CBT, mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing when they fit the client's needs.

   What is her professional background?

   She has 25 years of counseling experience and has worked with a wide variety of clients and concerns over that time.

   What credentials and location should I know about?

   She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, FL LMHC, and practices in Florida.

   Does she offer sessions in other languages or internationally?

   Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.

   What session formats are available?

   The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking.

   How is cost handled for sessions?

   Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

   How do I begin working with her?

   Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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