CLINICAL STAFF

Marla Dakin, LCSW

"In many ways, my children have been my greatest teachers through the years. I have a deep understanding and respect for the struggles that we experience as parents and I know first-hand what it is like to worry about the well-being of our children. I believe all parents want their children to grow up to be happy, productive individuals who will one day make their own unique marks in the world.

I have the privilege of helping individuals find their voices, express their feelings, and learn how to better cope with the issues they face in their day-to-day lives. I am so grateful for the opportunity to connect with my clients and to support them in this amazing work."

Marla Dakin is the founder of Farmington Valley Counseling Center, LLC. She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a certified school social worker in the state of Connecticut. Marla earned her Master's Degree in clinical social work from Columbia University School of Social Work in 1997. She has spent her career working with children, adolescents and families in traditional public school settings and clinical day school settings. At FVCC, Marla provides individual, family and group counseling services.

Each client comes to outpatient therapy with a unique situation. Marla utilizes a strengths-based perspective, recognizing the complex interplay between individuals, their environments, and their abilities to navigate their interpersonal relationships. Marla was trained in The RULER Approach at Yale University and she is well-versed in this model that helps individuals to Recognize, Understand, Label, Express and Regulate emotions.

Marla utilizes a practical, skills-based approach in her practice. She prides herself on her ability to connect with clients and to engage with them in the meaningful work of therapy. She works with with individuals who are dealing with a range of issues, including anxiety and mood disorders, ADHD, learning disabilities, executive functioning disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Individuals with social, emotional, behavioral or learning challenges often struggle to perform their best and may become overwhelmed with the tasks before them. As an experienced school social worker, Marla has a unique perspective on the issues that students encounter in the school setting and the skills that are needed to achieve academic and social success.

Marla is married and is the mother of a pre-teen daughter and a teenage son. She also has an adorable pocket beagle named Ellie (who may make an appearance every now and then in the office as a therapeutic helper). In her free time Marla enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on her daughter's soccer team.

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