Marilyn Santoro, LPC

Marilyn Santoro is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado with 25 years of experience. She helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low mood, or concerns about addiction. Parents reading on a phone will find a calm, direct style and practical steps to try between sessions.

She focuses on building a respectful, sensitive relationship. Conversations are tailored to each person's needs. Marilyn listens first, then helps set small, realistic goals to improve day-to-day functioning.

Her approach mixes talk therapy with skills practice. That can mean identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, learning emotion regulation skills, or working through painful memories at a steady pace. Sessions aim to be clear and hands-on so clients leave with something to use that week.

Marilyn draws on several ways of working to fit the person in front of her. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change thinking and behavior patterns and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach coping skills for intense emotions. She also values a client-centered stance that keeps the person's priorities in focus.

People often seek her help for trauma and abuse, motivation and confidence, or ongoing anxiety and stress. She emphasizes collaboration and practical steps so progress feels achievable. Taking the first step can be hard, and Marilyn offers steady support through that process.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing the behaviors that keep problems going. Online CBT sessions include practical exercises, thought records, and homework to try between meetings to reduce anxiety and low mood.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for managing strong emotions and improving responses to stress. In teletherapy this often means learning and practicing emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills with guided coaching from the therapist.

Marilyn also uses a client-centered stance that keeps each session focused on the person's goals and priorities. She works collaboratively to decide which methods to use so the plan fits the client's needs and life situation.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy schedules and differing comfort levels. Video calls let the therapist and client work face to face when visual cues matter. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a short break. Live chat and text messaging support quick check-ins, skill coaching, or ongoing encouragement between longer sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent and to practice skills in daily life.