Marilyn Medow

Marilyn Medow is an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois with 35 years of clinical experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, self-esteem concerns, and depression. Her work also addresses life purpose and pressures that come at midlife or after major changes.

She began her career concentrating on domestic violence, child welfare, and crisis intervention. That early work gave her long experience with trauma and complex situations. Over time she has added a variety of therapeutic methods and integrates what fits each person's needs.

In sessions she listens for what matters most and helps people name the practical problems they face. She uses straightforward conversation and new perspectives to reduce overwhelm. She also works on patterns such as attachment concerns, abandonment fears, guilt and shame, and communication problems.

Clients may bring issues like chronic illness or pain, caregiver stress, divorce and separation, or money worries. Marilyn addresses these alongside emotional concerns such as impulsivity, isolation, and body image. She aims to help people try different behaviors and see if those changes shift their day-to-day life.

Marilyn earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and her master’s degree from Smith College. She draws on decades of practice when matching strategies to a person’s situation. People interested in talking about life purpose and next steps will find these topics included in her work.

Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work

Marilyn draws on several evidence-based therapeutic techniques and adapts them to the issue at hand. One approach focuses on trauma-informed care, which pays attention to past harm and helps people reduce overwhelming reactions by working through memories and responses in manageable steps. This can help with anxiety, flashbacks, and stress reactions.

Another common strand in her work emphasizes attachment and relationship patterns. This looks at how early connections shape expectations and behaviors now, and helps people notice and alter repeating patterns in relationships, communication, and feelings of abandonment.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss options and help decide together what fits the client’s needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative selection may change as the work proceeds and as different strategies are tried.

Practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy week and reducing travel time. Because the biography does not specify session formats, confirm current session options before booking. Many people find online meetings easier to schedule around work, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make it simpler to maintain continuity after life changes.