Marla Sanderson, LMFT-S (She/Her)
Clinical Director at Austin Mindfulness Center in Austin, Texas.
I love reading, science fiction/horror, cooking, crafting, video games, and my two rescue dogs.
Support for ADHD & neurodivergence, relationships, and trauma.
Meet with Marla
- Online appointments.
- Ages 13 and up: Teens (13–17), Young Adults (18–25), Adults (26–64), and Older Adults (65+)
- Languages: English.
- Sees couples and partners.
Payment options: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Carelon, Cigna, EHN, Optum, Oscar, Oxford, Private Pay / Self Pay, Sana, and United Healthcare.
Availability and insurance coverage are confirmed before scheduling.
Marla's focus
- ADHD
- Alternative Lifestyle Concerns
- Identity Exploration
- Intergenerational Trauma
- Life Transitions
- Neurodivergence
Professional profile
Marla is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Texas, California, Colorado, Oregon and Idaho. She enjoys reading, cooking, crafting, video games and spending time with her two rescue dogs. She has a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology. Marla has over 20 years of experience working in the mental health field and most recently worked as a clinical supervisor for a school based program that provided therapy to over 20 schools. Her experience includes juvenile justice, running an intensive therapeutic at a non-public school, ERMHS, crisis work, substance usage, LGBTQ+ and gender fluid populations. She has also worked within private practice medical models. She currently specializes in ADHD, adolescents, and trauma processing. Marla is fully trained in EMDR and is working toward certification.
Welcome
Great work! You've already made your first steps toward enacting positive change. My goal as a therapist is to help give you insight into "why you do (or act) the way you do" and to provide support in teaching you ways to cope and deal with the curve balls that life throws.
How I work
Therapy for Adults
I will use a strength-based, culturally-attuned, person-centered, and trauma-focused lens when we work together, meeting you where you are at. I will work to create a safe space using empathy, sensitivity, and humor. This safe space will serve as a container that will allow you to process your life experiences, and to enhance your self-awareness. We will work in a collaborative manner to create goals and to design a pathway to change. I will challenge you to push yourself in thinking outside of your "normal" ways and to walk down the road "less traveled".
If you are suffering from anxiety and/or trauma, I specialize in a treatment called EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). EMDR is a specialized treatment that is designed to decrease the negative symptoms and distress that are a result of traumatic or disturbing life experiences. EMDR can be helpful for phobias, specific anxiety, PTSD, trauma histories (single and repeated), along with many other issues that might be causing distress, fear or worry.
As a therapist, I strive to always be honest with my clients, open to feedback and to work in a collaborative manner. It is my focus to assist you in reaching the goals that YOU want to achieve.
Therapy for Teens and School-Aged Children
Trauma, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression can play havoc with your child's ability to thrive and be happy, but also can negatively affect their grades, cognitive abilities and emotional regulation. I am here to help.
For those with children in educational settings, my unique background and experience allow me to provide insight, education, guidance, and support in navigating the school system. Things like IEP's (individualized education program), 504 plans, ERMHS (educationally related mental health services) and correct placement can make all of the difference in your child's chances for success. I will work collaboratively with you to find the best strategy for your child.
Children and Adolescent Counseling
Individual therapy is focused on helping them to gain insight, and to learn skills and tools to navigate life in a more healthy and adaptive manner. This can be done through play and art for the younger ones and a mixture of play/art and more traditional talk therapy for older children and teens. In addition, family therapy can be essential in reinforcing the structure and tools they need to be successful and can help you as a parent to understand your unique child.
What Marla helps with
- ADHD
- Alternative Lifestyle Concerns
- Identity Exploration
- Intergenerational Trauma
- Life Transitions
- Neurodivergence
- Aging & Later-Life Adjustment
- Anxiety
- Attachment Concerns
- Boundaries
- Complex Trauma
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- LGBTQ+ Concerns
- Midlife Transitions
- Mood Disorders
- Parenting
- People-Pleasing
- Perfectionism
- PTSD
- Relationship Concerns
- Self-Esteem
- Self-Harm
- Sexual Trauma
- Stress
- Suicidal Ideation
- Trauma
- Abandonment
- Adoption / Foster Care
- Alternative Spirituality
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Body Image
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Caregiving Stress
- Christian Spirituality
- Codependency
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
- Divorce / Separation
- Family Conflict
- Giftedness
- Infertility
- Meaning & Purpose
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
- OCD
- Panic Disorder
- Perinatal & Postpartum Concerns
- Personality Disorders
- Phobias
- Post-IOP / Post-Hospitalization Care
- Pre-Marital Counseling
- Sleep Difficulties
- Substance Use
- Work-Life Balance
Who Marla works with
- Bicultural / Multicultural Individuals
- BIPOC Communities
- College Students
- Intercultural Families
- Neurodivergent Individuals
- Identity-Exploring Clients
- Intergenerational Families
- LGBTQ+ Individuals
- Non-Monogamous / Polyamorous
- Parents & New Parents
- Sex-Positive Individuals
- Young Professionals
- Adoptive & Foster Families
- Artists & Creatives
- Caregivers
- Christians
- Couples & Partners
- First Responders
- Gifted Adults
- Latino / Hispanic Communities
- Military Members & Veterans
- Perinatal & Postpartum Individuals
- Spiritually Exploring Individuals
How Marla works
- Behavior Modification
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Integrative Approach
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Person-Centered
- Psychodynamic
- Strengths-Based Approach
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- EMDR
- Mindfulness
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
- Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
- Gottman Method
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Therapist spotlight
What made you decide to become a counselor?
Wanting to help others live a life as free from past trauma, generational norms and peer pressure.
If you could teach the world one skill or technique to improve their lives, what would it be?
Being less concerned about what others think of you, stop comparing yourself to others. You are amazing!!
If you could recommend one book to all your clients, what would it be?
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
How do you personally practice self-care?
I love various crafts: Crochet, mini dollhouse kits, diamond painting. I also love reading/listening science fiction and fantasy books, urban fantasy is my favorite genre, watching fun TV shows and anime, movies, playing video games, cuddling with the dogs and taking ridiculously long baths (like super long).
What inspires you to help others?
I grew up with undiagnosed ADHD, or more accurately my parents didn't think to tell me or get me help. I specialize in ADHD evaluations and treatment so that others can get help as early as possible. I want to help others not feel that they are broken or "less than others" and embrace your own individual superpowers. There is too much misery and stress in the world, if I can make it even just 0.01% better in some way I am going to try.