About Dr. Marianne Balton
Meet Dr. Marianne Balton - PHD Psychotherapist & Sex Therapist
Finding a psychotherapist is a personal decision. You deserve to enter those conversations in an environment where you feel welcomed, respected, and free from judgment.
My Practice
A place to feel heard.
I am Dr. Marianne Balton, a psychotherapist working with individuals navigating trauma and PTSD, anxiety and depression, major life transitions, sexual trauma and compulsive sexual behavior, and trauma experienced by veterans and first responders.
My practice is centered on providing a supportive place to talk openly about what you are experiencing. I understand that reaching out for therapy can feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable, particularly when you are considering sharing deeply personal experiences.
My aim is to make that first step feel more approachable by meeting you with compassion and respect.
My role is not to judge what you have experienced or tell you how you should feel. I provide a supportive space where you can explore what has happened, consider how it is affecting you now, and identify what you would like to change.
My Approach
You don't have to have everything figured out.
You may arrive feeling anxious, uncertain, overwhelmed, or simply unsure of where to begin.
That is okay. Therapy provides dedicated space to explore your experiences, thoughts, emotions, and concerns without expecting you to have all the answers beforehand.
“You only need a place to begin.”
— Dr. Marianne Balton
My Approach
A Welcoming Approach to Psychotherapy
Therapy should be a place where you can be honest about what is happening in your life.
01
Come As You Are
You may arrive feeling anxious, uncertain, or unsure how to describe what you are experiencing. I welcome you wherever you are in that process.
02
No Perfect Explanation Needed
You might have a specific concern you want to address, or you may simply know that you do not want to continue feeling the way you do.
03
Space to Explore
My psychotherapy practice provides dedicated space to explore your experiences, thoughts, emotions, and concerns without expecting you to have everything figured out.
My role is not to judge what you have experienced or tell you how you should feel. I provide a supportive space where you can explore what has happened, consider how it is affecting you now, and identify what you would like to change.
A Safe Place to Talk
Some things are simply difficult to say out loud.
Trauma, sexual trauma, addiction, depression, and experiences connected to military or first responder work can involve complicated emotions and memories.
You don't have to tell your entire story at once.
Therapy can begin by simply identifying what is affecting you today.
Areas of Practice
Support for what you are experiencing.
My psychotherapy practice focuses on several areas that can significantly affect emotional well-being and everyday life. While people may share similar concerns, no two experiences are exactly the same. I take the time to understand what has brought you to therapy and what you need from the process.
Trauma and PTSD
Traumatic experiences can continue to affect your emotional well-being, relationships, thoughts, and reactions. I work with individuals navigating trauma and PTSD and provide a supportive setting for exploring how past or ongoing experiences are affecting life in the present.
Anxiety and Depression
Persistent anxiety or depression can influence many parts of daily life. You may struggle with worry, sadness, low motivation, emotional exhaustion, or feeling disconnected from the activities and relationships that matter to you. I provide space to explore these experiences and better understand what you are feeling.
Life Transitions
A major transition can create uncertainty even when the change is expected. Changes involving work, relationships, family, loss, identity, or other important parts of life may leave you unsure about what comes next. Psychotherapy can provide a place to process those changes and consider your path forward.
Sexual Trauma and Compulsive Sexual Behavior
Sexual trauma and compulsive sexual behavior can involve deeply personal experiences and complicated emotions. I offer a welcoming, judgment-free setting where these concerns can be discussed openly and respectfully.
Veteran and First Responder Trauma
Veterans and first responders can be exposed to experiences that others may find difficult to understand. I provide psychotherapy for individuals dealing with trauma associated with military service or first responder work, giving you a place to discuss how those experiences have affected you.
No Perfect Version of You Required
Why a Judgment-Free Environment Matters
Fear of judgment can make it harder to ask for help.
When you are already dealing with trauma, depression, addiction, or another deeply personal concern, worrying about how another person will perceive you can become an additional barrier. You may hesitate to speak honestly or avoid seeking support altogether.
I want my practice to feel different.
My goal is to provide an atmosphere where you can speak honestly without feeling that you need to present a polished version of yourself. Therapy is a place for the difficult days, unanswered questions, complicated emotions, and experiences that do not fit into a simple explanation.
You are not required to know exactly why you feel a certain way before beginning psychotherapy. Part of the process can involve developing a clearer understanding of what you are experiencing.
My role is not to judge what you have experienced or tell you how you should feel. I provide a supportive space where you can explore what has happened, consider how it is affecting you now, and identify what you would like to change.
My Approach
Therapy Focused on You as an Individual
Although people may seek therapy for similar reasons, each person's circumstances are different. Two individuals living with anxiety may experience it differently. Trauma can affect people in different ways. A life transition that feels manageable to one person may be overwhelming to another.
For that reason, I approach psychotherapy with attention to the individual sitting in front of me.
Your experiences matter. So do the concerns that are affecting your life now and the changes you hope to make.
I provide a place where those concerns can receive focused attention rather than being minimized, rushed, or compared with someone else's experiences.
My role is not to judge what you have experienced or tell you how you should feel. I provide a supportive space where you can explore what has happened, consider how it is affecting you now, and identify what you would like to change.
My Approach
You don't have to have everything figured out.
Starting therapy does not require you to reach a particular level of distress. You do not need to wait until a concern becomes a crisis before deciding that you would benefit from support.
You might reach out because a traumatic experience continues to affect you. Anxiety or depression may be interfering with daily life. A major transition may have left you feeling uncertain. You may be ready to discuss sexual trauma, addiction, or experiences connected to your work or service.
You may also have difficulty naming exactly what is wrong.
Any of these can be reasons to begin a conversation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of clients do you work with?
I work with individuals seeking psychotherapy for trauma and PTSD, anxiety and depression, life transitions, sexual trauma and addictions, and trauma affecting veterans and first responders.
What can I talk about in therapy?
Therapy provides space to discuss the experiences, emotions, thoughts, and concerns affecting your well-being. You do not need to limit the conversation to a single issue or know exactly where to begin.
What if I am nervous about starting therapy?
Feeling uncertain about beginning therapy is understandable, particularly if you are preparing to discuss private or difficult experiences. I aim to create a welcoming environment where you can begin at a pace that respects your comfort.
Do I need to be experiencing a crisis to contact you?
No. Therapy can be considered at many points in life. You can seek support when you are experiencing an immediate difficulty, dealing with an ongoing concern, navigating change, or simply recognizing that you would like help understanding what you are experiencing.
New Paragraph
A Place to Begin
You don't have to have the right words.
If you are navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, a life transition, sexual trauma or addiction, or experiences connected to military or first responder service, I invite you to reach out.
Connect With Me
Phone
email
You do not have to arrive with the right words or a complete explanation of what you are experiencing. A conversation can simply be where you begin.
