What issues can therapy help me with?

I offer therapy for adults navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, trauma, codependency, people-pleasing, and emotional overwhelm. My approach is especially supportive for women seeking deeper self-understanding, nervous system regulation, and a more empowered relationship with themselves and others. Therapy can help you feel more grounded, connected, and clear—no matter where you're starting from.

Do you offer online therapy in California, Florida, and Europe?

Yes. I provide online therapy for clients across California and Florida and virtual therapy for American expats living in Europe, including the U.K. I’m licensed in California and Florida, and registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, making therapy accessible whether you're in San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, or beyond. All sessions are offered via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.

What is somatic therapy, and how is it different?

Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It uses body-based awareness and regulation tools to help you process emotions, manage stress, and heal from trauma. Unlike traditional talk therapy alone, somatic therapy includes mindfulness, movement, breathwork, and nervous system regulation practices to support lasting change from the inside out.

What is EMDR and how does it work?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people heal from trauma and distressing experiences. Using bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping), EMDR helps your brain reprocess stuck memories and reduce emotional reactivity. It can be especially helpful for PTSD, anxiety, and shifting long-held negative beliefs.

Do you specialize in therapy for codependency and people-pleasing?

Yes. Supporting clients who struggle with codependency, people-pleasing, and boundary issues is a core part of my work. If you often put others' needs before your own, feel resentment you don’t express, or struggle with self-worth, therapy can help you break old patterns, set boundaries with clarity, and reconnect with your voice and needs.

What happens in a free consultation call?

The free 15-minute consultation is a chance for us to connect and see if we’re a good fit. You can share what’s bringing you to therapy, ask any questions you have, and get a feel for how I work. There’s no pressure to commit—just an open, supportive space to explore whether this feels right for you.

How long are the sessions and how often do we meet?

Therapy sessions are 45 or 50 minutes long, and most clients begin with weekly sessions for consistency and momentum. Depending on your goals and needs, we can adjust frequency over time. All sessions are personalized, collaborative, and designed to meet you where you are.

How do I get started with therapy?

You can get started by booking a free consultation or contacting me directly. From there, we’ll schedule your first session and talk through the next steps. Whether you're new to therapy or returning to it, I'm here to make the process feel grounded, supportive, and clear.

What is adjustment disorder for expats?

Adjustment disorder describes the emotional and physical stress that arises when life changes feel overwhelming. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013), it involves distress or difficulty functioning within three months of a major life stressor—like relocation, cultural transition, or career change. For expats, this can appear as homesickness, fatigue, irritability, or feeling “stuck” between worlds.

Why is it so hard to adjust to life abroad?

Relocation touches every layer of identity: where you live, how you connect, and who you are becoming. From a trauma-informed lens (Porges, 2011), the nervous system seeks familiarity and safety. When everything changes—language, culture, community—your body may respond with anxiety, restlessness, or withdrawal. Therapy helps you regulate, process loss, and rebuild a sense of safety in your new environment.

How can somatic and mindfulness therapy help expats?

Somatic therapy (Levine, 1997; Miller-Karas, 2015) works with the body’s sensations to release stored tension and calm the nervous system. Mindfulness, as defined by Jon Kabat-Zinn (1990), cultivates non-judgmental awareness of the present moment—helping you respond with compassion instead of self-criticism. Together, these approaches support you in recognizing your body’s stress signals, grounding in the present, and discovering inner stability despite external change.

When should I consider therapy for adjustment or relocation stress?

If distress lasts longer than expected, interferes with work or relationships, or feels heavier than you can manage, therapy can help. You don’t need to wait for a “crisis” to seek support—therapy can be a stabilizing resource for growth, clarity, and integration.

Psychotherapy in San Francisco

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Relationship-Focused, Trauma-Informed Therapy for Adults

If you’re seeking psychotherapy in San Francisco to better understand emotional patterns, relationship challenges, or the impact of past experiences, working with a licensed psychotherapist can provide clarity, support, and meaningful change.

Marcelle Little offers psychotherapy for adults in San Francisco, working with both men and women who want to explore relational dynamics, emotional regulation, trauma, and life transitions in a thoughtful, grounded way.

Psychotherapy with Marcelle is rooted in a relational, trauma-informed framework. Rather than focusing only on symptom management, the work explores how emotional patterns develop through early relationships, life experiences, and ongoing relational dynamics.

A Relational Approach to Psychotherapy

Common areas of focus include:

Relationship and attachment challenges
Emotional regulation and reactivity
Trauma and unresolved emotional experiences
Anxiety, overwhelm, and chronic stress
Life transitions and identity shifts
Women’s issues, including relational and emotional concerns

The therapeutic process emphasizes awareness, emotional safety, and developing a deeper understanding of internal patterns that influence thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.

Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy

Marcelle’s psychotherapy practice is trauma-informed, recognizing that emotional experiences are often held not only cognitively but also within the nervous system and the body.

Therapy may include:

Exploring how past experiences shape present reactions
Increasing emotional awareness and tolerance
Understanding relational patterns and boundaries
Supporting nervous system regulation
Creating space for reflection and integration
EMDR to reprocess stored memories and limiting belief systems

Sessions are collaborative and paced to support safety, insight, and sustainable growth.

Psychotherapy for Adults in San Francisco

Marcelle works with adults in San Francisco who are seeking psychotherapy that is:

Relational and insight-oriented
Trauma-and parts work-informed (IFS)
Grounded in emotional awareness
Attentive to individual and relational contexts

Psychotherapy services may be offered virtually, allowing clients throughout San Francisco to access consistent support.

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Beginning Psychotherapy in San Francisco

Starting psychotherapy is a personal decision. Whether you’re navigating relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, trauma, or a period of transition, therapy can offer a space to explore these experiences with care and depth.

Marcelle Little provides psychotherapy for adults in San Francisco who are seeking greater understanding, emotional clarity, and meaningful change.

Schedule a consultation to learn more about psychotherapy services.

Interested in Women’s Transformational Coaching?

If you are specifically seeking women’s transformational coaching (a non-therapy service for adult women), that work is offered separately from psychotherapy.

Mother–daughter coaching (for individual women and mother-daughter couples) focuses on relational dynamics, communication, and personal growth and is not psychotherapy.

You can learn more about this service here: 👉 Explore Mother–Daughter Coaching

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Frequently Asked Questions About Psychotherapy

All psychotherapy sessions are offered virtually. Virtual psychotherapy provides flexibility, continuity of care, and accessibility while maintaining a thoughtful and relational therapeutic process.
Clients often seek psychotherapy to explore:
- Relationship and attachment challenges
- Emotional regulation and reactivity
- Anxiety, overwhelm, or chronic stress
- Trauma and unresolved emotional experiences
- Life transitions and periods of change
- Identity, relational, or emotional concerns
Psychotherapy offers a space to reflect on these experiences with depth and care.
Marcelle’s psychotherapy practice is relational and trauma-informed. The work focuses on understanding how emotional patterns develop through relationships and lived experience, while supporting awareness, reflection, and emotional regulation.
Yes. Marcelle practices trauma-informed psychotherapy, recognizing that emotional experiences are often held both cognitively and within the nervous system and body. Sessions are paced to support safety, insight, and sustainable growth.
Psychotherapy may be a good fit if you are seeking a reflective, relational process to better understand emotional patterns, relationships, or past experiences. An initial consultation can help determine whether psychotherapy aligns with your needs.
The first step is scheduling a consultation. This provides an opportunity to ask questions, share what you are navigating, and explore whether working together feels like the right fit.
Yes. Psychotherapy and coaching are distinct services. Psychotherapy focuses on emotional patterns, relational experiences, and mental health support. Coaching services, including mother–daughter coaching, are offered separately and are not part of psychotherapy care.