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MM Portrait of Marilyn Medow

Marilyn Medow

Compassionate trauma-informed social worker

About Marilyn

Marilyn Medow is a licensed clinical social worker with 35 years of professional experience practicing in Illinois. She developed early expertise in domestic violence, child welfare, and crisis intervention, and over the years she has deepened her understanding of trauma and abuse while expanding her clinical repertoire.

Background and approach

Her practice includes work with stress and anxiety, family difficulties, parenting challenges, self-esteem concerns, and depression, along with a broad set of related issues such as attachment and abandonment, communication struggles, and caregiver stress. Her therapeutic style adapts to each person’s situation, drawing on evidence-based techniques tailored to individual needs rather than applying a single method for everyone.

Marilyn aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore painful memories, process complicated emotions, and try new ways of coping. She emphasizes practical perspective shifts that can reduce distress and support movement toward healthier patterns.

Marilyn invites people to begin their journey with curiosity and courage and accompanies them through the unfolding process of healing and self-discovery.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Care

Marilyn commonly draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide her work, focusing on approaches that help process trauma and strengthen coping. One approach she uses helps people process traumatic memories and reduce the emotional intensity tied to past events by working through the narrative and safety strategies. Another approach centers on improving communication, emotional understanding, and attachment patterns so clients can navigate family conflicts, separation, and relationship stress more effectively.

Choosing the right therapeutic approach is part of the collaborative process. Marilyn partners with each client to identify which methods best match their goals, life circumstances, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies over time as progress and needs evolve.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for clients who need alternatives to in-person meetings. Video calls and phone sessions allow for real-time conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging provide simpler ways to check in or process thoughts between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and maintain continuity of care across locations.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Marilyn address?
She works with stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, and depression, as well as related matters like attachment, grief around separation, and caregiver stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is tailored to each client and uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help people process emotions, shift perspectives, and develop new coping strategies.
How long has she practiced clinically?
Marilyn brings 35 years of professional experience to her work, including early specialization in domestic violence, child welfare, and crisis intervention.
What credentials and location are on file?
She is licensed as an LCSW in Illinois under credential IL LCSW 149000969 and practices from that state.
Can I work with her from another country?
Yes, she accepts international clients and provides services to people who are located outside the United States.
Which session formats does she offer?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.