Marianne Costales-Roman

Compassionate, evidence-informed support for life transitions

LCSW Illinois

Experience: 27 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Parenting
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English, Spanish

About Marianne

Marianne Costales-Roman is an Illinois-based licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 27 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and a wide range of relationship and identity concerns.

Background and approach

She brings an affirming, culturally aware perspective to work with LGBT clients and those facing parenting, family, intimacy, and career challenges, aiming to strengthen self-esteem, communication, and coping skills across life transitions. Her practice emphasizes a collaborative, person-centered stance that blends evidence-informed modalities to match clients' needs.

Marianne integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and client-centered techniques to address issues like eating and sleep difficulties, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and complex family-of-origin or blended-family dynamics.

She also supports concerns related to adoption, foster care, caregiver stress, codependency, dissociation, and commitment or control struggles. Fluent in English and Spanish, Marianne accepts international clients and offers flexible session options to fit varied schedules.

Her practice focuses on empowering clients to develop practical tools, clearer communication, and resilient responses to life's challenges while honoring each person's individual background and goals.

Approach-Focused Online Care with Practical Flexibility

Marianne commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into online work. CBT helps people identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, offering concrete tools for anxiety, mood, and sleep difficulties. ACT emphasizes values and mindful acceptance, supporting clients who are coping with life changes, loss, or ongoing stress by helping them commit to meaningful actions despite difficult feelings.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Marianne collaborates with each person to explore which methods align with their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, adapting techniques over time to ensure the therapy feels useful and practical for the client's needs.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different routines and responsibilities. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care across schedules and locations while allowing clients to engage in therapy from home or while traveling. Licensed professionals can tailor pacing, homework, and communication methods so progress fits into everyday life.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Marianne commonly address?

She works with a broad set of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family issues, grief, LGBT-related matters, parenting, anger, intimacy issues, eating and sleeping problems, self-esteem, career challenges, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes.

What is Marianne's general therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative and person-centered, focusing on building strengths, improving communication, and creating culturally responsive care tailored to each client's situation.

How much clinical experience does she bring?

She has 27 years of clinical experience working with individuals facing complex emotional and life transition challenges.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is a licensed clinical social worker with the credential LCSW and holds Illinois license number IL LCSW 149012137.

Which languages are available for sessions and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and she does accept international clients.

In what session formats does she meet with clients?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What is the first step to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyLGBTParenting issuesAnger managementDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDissociationDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMulticultural concernsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualityWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Psychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

27+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English, Spanish