About Marilyn
MARILYN LAMMERT – ABOUT ME AND MY PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTICE
I have experience with a wide range of people and their concerns. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Social Work Master’s degree from Washington University and a Doctor of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University as well as thousands of hours of advanced clinical and spiritual training.
I’ve been in clinical practice for more than 30 years. Before and during that time, I was a university professor, a community organizer and a sixth grade teacher. All of this has provided me with professional and life experience. Naturally, I and my practice have evolved out of many things: my original family, formal education and training, the serious illness I had in my early 20’s, and my own therapy. And my marriage, adopting and raising children, and a ten-year chronic debilitating illness in the recent past have shaped me as well. I’m a strong person and I believe these experiences have made me stronger. I believe we all have such strength in us.
Here are some things about me that may help you decide if I am someone you would like to work with:
People who know me know that I like to learn and synthesize what I learn. This is true especially when what I learn helps me understand why things might happen as they do—between people, in the world, and in myself. So in our work together you will learn new tools, such as your "learning style" and how to access your inner wisdom, as well as other things interesting and useful for your life. I think somewhere in all of us is the yearning to learn and understand ourselves.
Feeling connected to the people I care about is probably what is most important to me. I think connections are deeply important to all of us. From my teens on, I’ve always searched for meaning in some way. Earlier, I wanted to understand why what was happening to me was happening. Later, I wanted to feel my connection to something deeper than my everyday existence. I read, went to see, listened to whatever and whomever felt right to me, i.e., spoke to me. All along, I was organizing and synthesizing my experiences–sometimes I share these with clients when that seems right.
My Approach
What are you going through right now? What kind of help do you need?
Over the first three sessions, I try to get a full picture of what's going on, where you've been, where you'd like to go, and to help you begin to feel better. I work with both classic psychodynamic talk therapy and Gestalt therapy, which incorporates the important aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). A psychodynamic approach helps you to understand long-standing patterns and internal struggles. Gestalt therapy and CBT are more directive and task-based, extremely effective for quickly reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Fees & Insurance
I accept all PPO insurance (please check with your insurance carrier regarding out-of-network care). I am also a Medicare provider.
I have a standard fee, but I also take into account your ability to pay. Please call me to discuss this.
Background
Degrees and Education
- Washington University, MSW, Clinical Social Work
- Johns Hopkins University, ScD, Health Care
- Gestalt Training Center (Erving & Miriam Polster), San Diego, CA 1978 (300 hours intensive training)
- Integrated Kabbalistic Healing 2005 (350 hours intensive training)
- Continuing Education, 40 hours per year ongoing
Primary Professional Activities
- Private Practice of Psychotherapy, 1979-present
- Consultant, Center for Development/Psych Services Employee Assistance Program, 1986-2005
- Associate Professor, National Catholic School of Social Service, The Catholic University of America, 1980-1988
- Assistant Professor, School of Social Work and Community Planning, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, 1975-1980
- Director, Center for Health Services, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 1974-1975
- Assistant to the Dean, School of Health Services, The Johns Hopkins University, 1972-1974
- Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Washington University, 1970-1972
