Marla is a cognitive behavioral therapist (most insurances accepted), public speaker, and adjunct faculty teaching Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Wayne State University.

Working in the field of mental health has always been Marla's passion in life!  Her professional training has been both clinical and medical.  As a therapist, she attempts to understand what precipitated an individual/couple's need for treatment.  She utilizes the therapeutic setting by creating an atmosphere of trust, mutual respect, and effective communication.  The underlying goal is to empower those who seek treatment to emulate/recreate this type of relationship in the real world.

Ms. Ruhana's theoretical orientation is cognitive therapy.  She is extremely here and now focused.  She offers coping techniques to assist in problem solving.  To understand we are all in process, constantly becoming and evolving in terms of increased self-awareness and personal growth.  Marla encourages those she works with to consider new perspectives, recognize options, take control over their lives, face their fears and make healthier choices.

Marla facilitates individual, couples, and group psychotherapy.  Her areas of specialty are depression, anxiety, addiction and/or codependency, life transitions, teenage pregnancy, coping with chronic/terminal illness (patient and/or caregiver), relationship issues and self-esteem. 

Her primary area of expertise is Grief and Loss-Complicated Grief, Disenfranchised Grief, Anticipatory Grief, as well as the normal grieving process.  Suicide, sudden death, long-term illness, perinatal loss, miscarriage, loss of pet, loss as result of catastrophic event, loss of employment, divorce, relationship, life-long friendship, loss of youth, loss of "how we anticipated our life would be," and loss of independence.

In April, 2006, Marla was a Presenter/Speaker kicking off Anchor Bay School District's "Career Day".  Marla's message: All Kids are Stars - Encouraging students to believe in their dreams and pursue life's passion, no matter what!  If we believe it, we shall see it!

Marla is available for workshops, symposiums, and seminars on a variety of mental health issues.  Marla facilitates a Post-Partum Support Group for Tree of Hope Foundation at St. Joan of Arc Church in St. Clair Shores.  In addition, she will be facilitating quarterly retreats for diverse populations with a variety of themes.  The first of these was the "Women's Renewal Retreat" held in Lexington, MI the weekend of Oct. 13-15, 2006.

Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work
Certified in Critical Incident Stress Management
Emeritus Board Member - Mental Illness Research Association

University of Michigan-Dearborn  -  1990
Wayne State University  -  1993

Voice mail:  586-801-4701