Lucy E. Marrero, Psychotherapist Intern
Contact Lucy:
lucy @ psychologyofwomen (dot) com
323.369.0755 x 5
Schedule Your Appointment
I am a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern strongly influenced by narrative and liberation psychology, and I hold a strong commitment to socially just/culturally curious practices. I work with people who face a wide range of problems to deconstruct and demystify unhelpful discourses and to uncover hidden stories of complex humanity, strength, and resilience. Social problems such as discrimination and violence against women, people of color, and people who are gender-variant work together with problems such as difficulty concentrating, paralyzing anxiety, and depression to try to convince us that fulfilling, meaningful lives are out of reach. But my experience is that we can grow and thrive, even while we’re struggling with very real, very difficult problems.
As a writer, I have long been interested in the power of storytelling. Too often people of color, women, mothers, bisexual, lesbian and gay people, transgender people, poor people, immigrants, and other marginalized peoples are denied a voice to tell their own stories. Movies and books about us are everywhere, but are they written by us? Are they telling the rich, complex truth of our lives as we see them? I approach therapy as a “coauthor” or “editor.” I use my active curiosity to help develop meaningful stories, or narratives, that are useful in approaching the challenges and problems of life.
I take a mix master approach to therapy; like a DJ, I take samples from whatever is available and interesting and put it to use in helping us uncover forgotten narratives and to create new ones. Drawing, music, breathing exercises, building things, making collages—any materials we like can be employed in our work. Just like each person is unique, each person’s journey in therapy is unique.
My work as a therapist is shaped by my training and experience in liberation and narrative psychologies, Afro-Caribbean spirituality, and traditional Yoruba psychology. Some of the communities I work with include LGBT, people of color, mestiza/mixed-race folks, single parents, children and adults with ADHD, and people who are struggling with family violence. I also have a particular interest in preventing and stopping generational cycles of family violence and helping couples and families create a peaceful environment of nurturing care and support. I also have a rich history of community building and organizing, and I bring this into my practice as a therapist by helping the people I work with to build/connect with a community of support.
I prefer asking questions to giving lectures, because I see therapy as a collaborative process. My expertise is in curiosity, connecting emotional/psychological and spiritual health, and practices that reignite people’s hope and encourage growth and insight. The people I work with bring their expertise in their lives, what they value, what they have come to know, and the cultural context that they live in. Our combined expertise is a powerful factor in helping hopes and dreams become reality.
Degrees, Certifications, and Memberships
Antioch University, Los Angeles
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Applied Community Psychology Specialization
State of California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences
Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern
University of Illinois, Springfield
Bachelor of Arts in Literary Studies
National Latino/a Psychological Association
Member
Society for Community Research and Action
Member
National Women’s Studies Association
Member and Women of Color Leadership Project Scholarship Recipient (2008)
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You may also be interested in:
- Celine Elise Alvarez, Psychotherapist Intern- Jessica LeRoy, MA, MFT
- Dylan Berkey, MA, MFT
