Marianne Smith, AZ LPC LPC-11739

My name is Marianne and I am a licensed professional therapist in Arizona with over 30 years of experience. In my many years of working as a therapist, the thing that has impressed me the most is the resiliency of the human spirit. I have worked with clients who have suffered through severe trauma, or who have had to make difficult life-changing decisions and yet, still find the strength to carry on. I am inspired by the strength and hope that I have witnessed in so many of my clients and carry that positive energy into my current therapy sessions. I strive to work with my clients to find their inner strength and resiliency to reach their full potential and achieve their desired goals.
Even at a young age I was fascinated by human behavior and how biology and experiences shape the beliefs, personality and behaviors of individuals. While still in middle school I began reading books by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and other early founders of psychology, which only fueled my interest. But life events prevented me from pursuing my dream of becoming a therapist after high school. Several years later I was lucky enough to meet a clinical psychologist, who would become a dear friend and mentor. With his encouragement and support, I entered college, obtained my bachelor’s and master’s Degrees and ultimately became a licensed therapist.
My personality influences my approach to therapy in many ways. I am friendly and easy going and I like to bring that into the therapeutic process to create a relaxed and accepting atmosphere. My communication style is straight forward and direct, but I respect the opinions, thoughts and feelings of others. I value diversity and believe that every person has the right to be who they are without judgement and believe we should embrace and celebrate our differences. Most of all I believe in authenticity and being honest and genuine. In therapy I strive to create a comfortable and safe environment in which clients can address their concerns and work on personal goals while feeling validated and valued.

Please message me and provide several dates and times that are convenient for you so we can arrange our first meeting. My office hours are Monday through Friday, and I offer some flexibility in scheduling.