Marlina Mueller
(she/her/hers)
Outpatient Therapist
Marlina Mueller is an Outpatient Therapist at Anesis, holding credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Training (LPC-IT) and a Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SAC-IT). She earned her Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
With two years of experience in the mental health field prior to joining Anesis, Marlina has a diverse background in therapeutic settings. She spent two years working in a partial hospitalization (PHP) setting, specifically with young people ages 12-18 dealing with depression and/or substance abuse disorders. Additionally, she has two years of experience working alongside individuals with anxiety and OCD. Her expertise extends to group settings, including CBT groups, psychoeducation groups, experiential groups, and various support groups.
Marlina is currently finishing her training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to support kids and teens with trauma. While her primary work experience has been with children and young people, she is eager to expand her practice to serve clients of all ages.
Theoretically, Marlina primarily operates from a Narrative perspective. She also utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients understand the connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, particularly in relation to experiences of distress.
Marlina's philosophy on mental health treatment aligns closely with her theoretical orientation. She believes that every individual has their own unique story, influenced by relationships, culture, faith, traditions, and society. These stories can be both supportive and limiting. As a therapist, Marlina sees her role as helping clients "re-author" their stories by examining different chapters, rewriting them, and adding new perspectives and characters to create a narrative that aligns with their goals, needs, and wants.
As a bi-racial, immigrant clinician, Marlina's identity significantly informs her work. She hopes that her experiences of "in-betweenness" can provide a supportive and empathic space for clients to safely explore their own identities, understand how these identities impact their navigation of the world, and address any challenges they may be facing.
Outside of work, Marlina enjoys spending time in nature, listening to music, attending music festivals, cooking, and snuggling with her cat.
Marlina values working at Anesis because it provides a supportive space with others who share similar identities, helping her feel empowered and seen as a professional in the mental health field.