Therapist profile
Marcia Pontoni, LCSW
California
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Relationships and Anger
Continue with MarciaKey details
- CredentialsLCSW
- LicenseLCSW, California / 18141
- NPI1316147994
- Experience25 years
- LanguagesEnglish
- LocationCalifornia
About
- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness practice
- Motivational interviewing
About Marcia
Marcia Pontoni is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 25 years of experience. She helps people facing relationship strains, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and anger. Marcia also addresses addictions, stress, and challenges tied to life changes.
Her work blends practical talk with evidence-based tools. She often uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking and to test new behaviors. Mindfulness practices are added to help calm the body and bring focus back to the present.
Marcia draws on client-centered principles to keep sessions focused on what matters to each person. She pays attention to how past patterns show up now and uses psychodynamic ideas to name those patterns when helpful. Motivational interviewing is used when people are weighing change or facing ambivalence.
Sessions address everyday problems like communication breakdowns, jealousy, control issues, and intimacy concerns. She also supports people navigating major life events such as divorce, serious illness, or end-of-life matters. Work-related frustration and caregiving strain are included in her scope.
Marcia conducts sessions in English and works with adults. Her practice has served people with LGBT concerns and gender dysphoria issues among other areas. Before booking, confirm current session options and scheduling details.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following the person's priorities. In online sessions this means the therapist keeps questions direct and practical, encouraging people to name what they want to change and what matters most to them.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify thought patterns and test new behaviors. Online CBT often includes short experiments between sessions, worksheets, and concrete behavior plans to try between meetings. Mindfulness therapy teaches attention and breathing exercises that reduce reactivity and help manage anger and anxiety; these practices can be guided live and assigned for daily practice.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Marcia will collaborate with the client to decide whether CBT, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, or psychodynamic ideas best fit the goals and preferences. That choice can shift as progress is made.
Confirm the current session formats before booking because the biography does not list all possible options. Online work can make scheduling easier and help fit sessions into a busy week. It often allows for shorter check-ins when needed, less commute time, and the chance to practice skills between meetings without rearranging a whole day.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She helps people with relationship problems, grief, depression, anxiety, anger, stress, and addictions among other concerns listed in her profile.
What is her approach in sessions?
She uses client-centered work alongside cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness. Sessions often mix talk, skill practice, and grounding exercises.
How long has she practiced?
She has 25 years of professional experience working with people on a range of emotional and life issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in California and practices from that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can I work with her from another country?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does billing work and what does therapy cost?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start the process?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.