About the Therapist & the Approach
Meet Marie
Marie Howlett (she/her), Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Mt. Dora, FL
Before therapy, everyday situations, interactions with a partner, and family gatherings were full of potential triggers. I was the person who everyone opened up to, but there was no one to listen to me. I blamed myself for mistreatment by people who said they cared for me. Finally, I got tired of being lost and feeling alone. Eighteen years ago, I sought counseling and gradually learned to love and respect myself. My therapist helped me understand that the ways I adapted to dysfunctional relationships as a kid were making my life as an adult harder. Over time, I healed my inner child, ended toxic relationships, and started nurturing healthy bonds. I was inspired to return to school in 2020 to earn my Master's in Counseling and Psychology. I am trained in the foundations of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Clinical Hypnosis in order to offer to you the life-changing care that I have received.
more about Marie
I was born in 1981 and am the child of a first-generation Asian immigrant and military veteran. My free time is spent drawing and painting, baking, listening to music, reading, traveling, and watching films and tv. I’m married with three adult bonus children and a lovely hound.
The Approach
A therapy session with me is as unique as you are. The most influential factors regarding successful outcomes in counseling are first: the strength of the relationship between the therapist and client, and second: how ready the client is to face herself and to evolve. As trust between us grows, we’ll go beyond managing symptoms to heal the wounds that fuel your distress. I will share tangible interventions, guided meditations, and thought reframing for you to incorporate beyond the session. Professional counseling with me won’t be a series of “have you trieds…?,” and “you should justs…” that you’ve already heard from well-meaning friends and the internet. For an in-depth explanation of what counseling services in Mt. Dora are available, how EMDR therapy works, and what to expect overall, click on the services page.
The first step is a free 30=minute consultation call to determine if I am the right fit for your goals.
“I want you to get excited about who you are, what you are, what you have, and what can still be for you. I want to inspire you to see that you can go far beyond where you are right now.”
~ Virginia Satir, author & pioneer in family systems therapy
Credentials & Education
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Florida License Number: MH25778
2025 - Fundamentals of Hypnosis – ASCH Level 1
Certificate of Completion, Florida Society of Clinical Hypnosis
2022 - Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Full Course Completion, Connect Training and Consulting
2022 - M.S., Counseling & Psychology, Troy University
2004 - B.A., Liberal Studies, Minors in Mass Communication, Asian
Studies & Concentration in Art, University of Central Florida