Room to wander, grow, and find your way forward.
Therapy for kids with big feelings, parents looking for understanding, and adults making sense of the experiences they carry.
What's happening beneath the surface matters, and understanding it can open the door to meaningful change.
Hi, I’m Marli
I believe therapy is about more than learning the right tools or techniques. Those things are absolutely helpful, but feeling safe, understood, and genuinely connected to the person sitting across from you matters just as much. My goal is to create a space where you, or your child, can show up exactly as you are, without judgment, pressure to fit a certain mold, or the feeling that you need to be anyone other than yourself.
Therapy with me is collaborative, supportive, and human. I'm passionate about creating an inclusive, identity-affirming space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered to express your needs and advocate for yourself. And while we'll do meaningful work together, therapy doesn't have to feel serious all the time. We can laugh, celebrate wins, get creative, sit with the hard stuff, and have moments that simply feel human. Some of the best work happens when you feel comfortable enough to be fully yourself, and maybe even enjoy being here.
Whether it's a child learning to make sense of their big feelings, a parent trying to better understand and connect with their child, or an adult beginning to untangle patterns they've carried for years, I believe there's always room for curiosity, compassion, and connection. Every feeling, behavior, and experience has a story worth understanding. Together, we'll explore what's underneath the surface, make space for all the parts of who you are, and discover new ways to feel safe, connected, and confident in yourself and your relationships. Growth looks different for everyone, and that's okay. Sometimes we wander a little before we bloom.
Wherever you're starting from, I'll meet you there.
Marli Criniti, MS, LPC
〰️
Marli Criniti, MS, LPC 〰️
Areas of Specialty
ADHD & Executive Functioning
Understanding your brain, embracing your strengths, and finding what works for you.
Play-Based & Creative Therapy
Creative ways to explore emotions, express yourself, and grow at any age.
Trauma & Relationship Patterns
Making sense of old patterns and finding new ways to connect.
Anxiety, Self-Esteem & Identity
Moving beyond self-doubt and growing into who you are.
How I Can Help
A little support can make room for a lot of growth
-
Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially when your child is struggling and you're not sure how to help. Together, we'll explore what's underneath your child's emotions and behaviors, better understand their needs, and find practical ways to support them while strengthening your connection.
-
Kids don't always have the words to explain what they're feeling. With advanced training in play therapy, I use play, creativity, and developmentally appropriate approaches to help children express emotions, build confidence, and develop healthy coping skills.
-
ADHD is about more than focus and attention. It can impact emotions, motivation, self-esteem, and everyday life. As an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP), I bring specialized training to help you better understand how your brain works, navigate challenges, and develop practical strategies that build on your strengths.
-
Sometimes we find ourselves repeating patterns, feeling stuck, or reacting in ways we don't fully understand. Drawing from trauma-informed and Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed approaches, I help clients explore the experiences and protective patterns shaping how they see themselves and connect with others.
-
It's easy to lose sight of who you are when you're navigating expectations, relationships, and life's transitions. Therapy can be a space to slow down, reconnect with yourself, explore what matters to you, and begin building a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.
I provide an LGBTQIA+ and gender-affirming space where you don’t have to explain, defend, or minimize who you are. You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going, we can start with where you are.
-
Life is messy, and being human means sometimes feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of yourself. You don't have to have everything figured out or show up as the best version of yourself. Therapy is a space to be exactly where you are, without judgment, while we make sense of things together.
My Approach
A blend of evidence-based practices, specialized training, creativity, and genuine connection. There's no one-size-fits-all formula. We'll find what works for you, at your pace, in a way that feels supportive, meaningful, and true to who you are.
-
IFS-informed techniques: Get curious about the “parts” of yourself with compassion rather than judgment.
Play and Art Therapy Techniques: Explore emotions, express what can be hard to put into words, build insight, and approach therapy in ways that feel natural, engaging, and uniquely you. Therapy doesn’t always have to mean sitting and talking.
DBT: Build practical skills for navigating emotions, relationships, boundaries, and stressful moments. Together, we work on understanding emotions rather than fighting them, finding ways to cope when things feel like too much, and communicating needs more effectively. The goal is to build skills that feel realistic, supportive, and actually useful in everyday life.
ACT: Make space for difficult emotions without letting them take over. Together, we practice noticing thoughts with curiosity, understanding what matters most to you, and making choices that align with your values. The goal isn’t to never feel anxious, sad, or overwhelmed. It’s to feel more confident navigating those feelings when they show up.
CBT: Notice unhelpful patterns, understand how they impact everyday life, and practice new ways of thinking, coping, and responding to difficult situations.
I believe that understanding why something is happening can be just as important as knowing what to do about it. I want therapy to help make things feel less confusing. Rather than simply handing you a list of coping skills, we’ll work together to understand the patterns underneath what you’re experiencing and find tools that actually make sense for you.
-
I believe therapy works best when there's room for humor, honesty, curiosity, and the messy parts of being human. I show up as a real person, not just a therapist with a clipboard, and create space for you to do the same.
-
I believe therapy should be a place where you feel accepted, respected, and empowered to be yourself. My approach is inclusive, identity-affirming, and grounded in the belief that our differences deserve understanding, not judgment. I value advocacy, collaboration, and helping clients feel heard, supported, and confident in expressing their needs.
-
You are the expert on your own experiences. My role is to walk alongside you with curiosity, compassion, and clinical guidance. We'll move at a pace that feels right for you, honoring your experiences, boundaries, and individual needs while creating space for meaningful growth.
-
When working with children, I believe supporting parents is an important part of the process. We'll look beyond behaviors to better understand what's happening underneath, explore practical ways to respond to challenges, and strengthen connection at home. There's no expectation of perfect parenting here, just a willingness to learn and grow together.
How it Works
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. Whether you’re looking for support for yourself or trying to figure out how to best support your child. You might not know exactly what you need or where to begin. That’s okay, you don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out. We’ll start where you are, get curious together, and find the next steps as we go.
Step 1 - Reach Out
Let’s start with a conversation
Step 2 - Intake Session
We’ll explore what brings you here
Step 3 - Wander Together
We’ll keep finding the next step together.

