Marla Dakin, LCSW (CT), LICSW (MA)

Marla Dakin Headshot.jpg

You know you need some help for your child. You thought you could handle it, help them through this, but behaviors, emotions and the stress in the home is increasing. It’s impacting everything - their schooling, life at home, and their friendships. You watch them play video games, scroll through social media and binge on Netfilx, but they never tell you what's going on. That's the scariest part. You want to help them, but you can't break through. It’s painful to see how much your child is hurting. You’ve tried everything you can think of to make things better, but nothing is working. 

It’s difficult to figure out where to go and who to call to get support.  There are so many therapists out there, but you aren’t sure which ones are “good” or “the right fit” for you.  I can help.

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a certified school social worker with over 20 years of experience working with children, teens and parents.  I utilize a strengths based approach and teach skills (CBT and Mindfulness) that clients can use right after session and for years to come.  I focus on helping children, teens and parents learn how to recognize and express their emotions, to incorporate strategies to combat feelings of anxiety and depression, and to set meaningful life goals so they can feel happiness and a sense of hope about the future.

As a parent of two teens myself, I have an intimate understanding of this struggle from both a teen perspective and a parent perspective and I am here to tell you that you do not have to continue to suffer alone.

Here are some ways I help:  

Child Therapy

I help children who are struggling with anxiety and social challenges to learn how to recognize and understand their anxious feelings and to use strategies to overcome their worries and fears.  

Teen & Young Adult Therapy

I help teens and young adults who are dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues and school related stressors to talk about their struggles and to learn how to better manage their feelings and to create meaningful relationships and goals for their future.  

Group Therapy for Teen Girls

I help teenage girls who are feeling lonely and stressed to connect with other girls who have similar issues to develop relationships with one another so they can begin to feel accepted and secure in who they are.

Parent Therapy

I help overwhelmed parents to verbalize their concerns, to gain perspective on their unique situations, to learn how to better parent children with social emotional or behavioral issues so they can feel a sense of hope that things can and will get better for them and their child.  

If you are ready to move from feeling anxious and overwhelmed to feeling hopeful about a brighter future for you and your child, call or click the link below today to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.  I work with clients from all over the Farmington Valley region (Avon, Simsbury, West Hartford, Canton, Farmington) in our Avon, CT office and I also provide secure online counseling to individuals who live in CT and MA.

Credentials:

  • CT Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW #004924)

  • MA Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW #000122209)

  • CT Certified School Social Worker (#071)

  • M.S. in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work (NY, NY)

  • B.S. in Psychology from College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)

  • Trained in The RULER Approach at Yale University School of Emotional Intelligence

  • 20+ years working as a school social worker (grades pre-K through 12)

  • Knowledgeable regarding CT special education laws and procedures, as well as school-based support services for students

  • Owner and Clinical Director of Farmington Valley Counseling Center