Meet your new therapist.

Marlene Wendel, MA, LCSW

I’m a psychotherapist living in San Diego, California, working with adults who are coping with trauma, stress, anxiety, depression, and grief and loss. I also specialize in working with cancer patients and their loved ones to help navigate the ups and downs of that experience. I feel the honor of serving these folks deeply, and helping them make progress in their lives fulfills me.

I come by my passion for this field honestly, having lived through many types of loss myself, including too many experiences of loved ones’ cancer diagnoses at pivotal moments in my life. Those experiences cracked my heart wide open, and I grew in ways that created a need in me to dedicate myself to helping others on their own journeys. I have been counseling in the field of oncology for the past six years. I have been consistently expanding my knowledge and skill sets for helping solve the problems of the mind and heart ever since.

Therapy

The prime modality I use is EMDR, and I also rely heavily on concepts from Ego State Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Somatic approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing, all grounded heavily in mindfulness and self-compassion.

Education

I am proud to have an eclectic educational and professional background:

BA in English from University of San Diego 1998
MA in Literature from The University of York 2002
Master’s in Social Work from San Diego State University 2015
License in Clinical Social Work 2017
EMDR basic training completed 2019
EMDR certification - currently working towards

If you’ve read this far, perhaps I sound like I could be a good fit to you. Feel free to reach out to take advantage of a free 15-minute phone consultation where you can ask me all your important questions before committing to working with me on your goals for healing and well-being.

Please reach out to schedule a free consult

Whether you are struggling in your everyday life, or dealing with something like a life-changing diagnosis, I am here to help. I know that voice of hope and strength is in you, even if you don’t. I’m here to help you find that voice and do all that “moving forward” that you are so ready to do.
Please reach out by phone, or fill out my contact form.