- 35 years experience
- Illinois LCSW
- Focus on anxiety
About Marilyn
Marilyn Medow is a licensed clinical social worker with 35 years of practice. She is based in Illinois and has spent her career helping people who feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, or the fallout from trauma and abuse.
She creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can say what they feel and think. Marilyn encourages small, realistic changes that add up over time. She often helps people find new ways to respond when old patterns cause pain.
Early in her career she focused on domestic violence, child welfare, and crisis intervention, which gave her a lot of direct experience with traumatic situations. Over the years she added new approaches and perspectives to the work, blending what fits best for each person.
Marilyn describes therapy as a partnership. She listens to what a person needs and adapts her approach to those goals. Many people come with relationship stresses, parenting strain, or long-standing worries about self-worth, and she helps them sort through those issues one step at a time.
Her background includes an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and a master’s degree from Smith College. Marilyn says she was drawn to this work after finding healing through psychotherapy in her own life, and she aims to be a steady presence while clients pursue change.
Evidence-based approaches and how they translate online
Marilyn draws on a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques and chooses approaches that match a person’s needs. One common approach focuses on practical skills for managing anxiety and panic - learning breathing strategies, short cognitive shifts, and behavioral steps to reduce avoidance. These techniques help when panic attacks or daily worry get in the way of normal routines.Another frequently used strand centers on trauma-informed work, which helps people who have experienced abuse or crisis make sense of painful memories and reduce their emotional intensity. This can include paced processing and grounding tools to make overwhelming moments easier to tolerate.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Marilyn listens to a person’s history, priorities, and goals and then suggests methods to try. She checks in as therapy unfolds and adjusts the plan based on what works best for the individual.
The therapist's biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, cut travel time, and offer quicker check-ins during stressful weeks. Therapists can also adapt exercises and homework for use between sessions so progress continues outside the appointment.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns can Marilyn help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and family-related struggles. Additional focuses include issues like abandonment, attachment, and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is calm and nonjudgmental, with an emphasis on listening and practical steps. She adapts the approach to fit each person rather than using one fixed method.
How long has she been practicing?
She brings 35 years of professional experience to her work, including early roles in domestic violence, child welfare, and crisis intervention.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is an LCSW licensed in Illinois and completed graduate training at Smith College. Her practice is based in Illinois.
Does she work in languages other than English or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and billing handled?
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?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.