Marianna Birdsong

Compassionate CBT-informed therapy for adults

LCSW California

Experience: 8 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages: English, Hungarian

About Marianna

Marianna Birdsong is an LCSW based in California who works with adults managing anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem concerns, and major life transitions.

Background and approach

She emphasizes a personalized approach that adapts to each person’s needs, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and client-centered methods to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns, strengthen coping skills, and build resilience. Her clinical style blends structured skill-building with empathetic listening, allowing practical strategies from CBT to pair with a respectful, collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Marianna also brings experience with compassion fatigue, career challenges, body image, and issues connected to immigration and military service, which informs a broad and flexible practice. Before training as a social worker she worked as an Emergency Medical Technician and a peer counselor, experiences that deepened her commitment to supporting others through stressful and traumatic moments.

With eight years of professional experience, she offers telehealth services across California and provides care in English and Hungarian.

How evidence-informed approaches translate to online therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms such as anxiety and depression. It offers practical exercises and skills that can be practiced between sessions to support progress. Attachment-Based Therapy explores relational patterns and emotional needs that shape how people relate to others, helping clients address longstanding interpersonal challenges and build more stable connections.

Finding the right approach is collaborative; the therapist will work with each client to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and situation. Marianna adapts techniques from CBT, attachment work, and client-centered care as needed rather than relying on a single method, and she invites clients to provide feedback so the plan evolves with their needs.

Online therapy provides flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to schedule sessions around work and life commitments. These formats allow ongoing therapeutic work from different locations and can support continuity of care during transitions or when in-person visits are impractical. Licensed professionals can use these options to deliver structured interventions, real-time coaching, and ongoing support in ways that suit individual rhythms and preferences.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does she commonly address?

Marianna works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, career concerns, and coping with life changes, along with related topics such as compassion fatigue, body image, family and blended family problems, and post-traumatic stress.

What is her therapeutic approach and style?

Her practice combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered, attachment-based, mindfulness, and DBT-informed tools, blending structured skill building with empathic, collaborative care tailored to each client.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has eight years of experience in clinical and helping roles, and her background includes prior work as an Emergency Medical Technician and peer counselor.

What credentials and location details are available?

She holds an LCSW and is licensed in California with licence number CA LCSW 119127, practicing via telehealth within the state.

Which languages are offered and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are offered in English and Hungarian, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available for therapy?

She offers several online options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How does pricing and payment work?

Cost varies depending on location and therapist availability; sessions are accessed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Self esteemCareer difficultiesDepression Coping with life changes

Also works with

Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Blended family issuesBody imageCommunication problemsEmptinessFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImmigration issuesLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersNarcissismPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

8+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English, Hungarian