About Marilyn
Marilyn Medow is a licensed clinical social worker with 35 years of experience. She practices from Illinois and focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, family concerns, self-esteem, and depression. Marilyn aims to make the first step feel manageable for people who are nervous about starting therapy.
She begins by listening closely to what matters most. Sessions are conversational and practical. Marilyn helps people name the problems they face, try new ways of responding, and build small habits that make day-to-day life easier.
Background and approach
Early in her career she specialized in domestic violence, child welfare, and crisis intervention. That work gave her a deep familiarity with trauma and high-stress situations. Over time she expanded the range of approaches she uses so she can match methods to each person’s needs.
Her style is straightforward and person-centered. She offers new perspectives that can loosen stuck patterns and create workable next steps. Marilyn emphasizes real-life change rather than labels or jargon.
Marilyn earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and a master’s degree from Smith College. As an LCSW she draws on decades of practice to support people through hard moments and transitions. She also helps people sort through complicated feelings about relationships, caregiving, health struggles, and money.
People looking for flexible session options can connect by video, phone, live chat, or messaging. Marilyn welcomes international clients and works with each person to shape goals that fit their life.
How therapeutic methods translate to online care
Marilyn uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that she tailors to each person. One common approach she relies on is trauma-informed work, which focuses on understanding how past harms affect current feelings and behaviors and on building practical coping skills to reduce overwhelm. Another frequent emphasis is problem-focused therapy where conversations target specific stressors like anxiety, caregiving strain, or relationship conflict and identify concrete steps to try between sessions.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Marilyn will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped in the past. Together they decide which techniques to start with and adjust the plan as progress or new issues appear.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues are helpful. Phone sessions can work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging offer flexibility for brief updates, journaling between sessions, or when fitting therapy into a busy day. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel schedules while keeping continuity over time.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Experience
- 35 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English
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