Marla Johnson , LMHC

Marla Johnson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist practicing in Florida. With more than 25 years of professional experience, she has worked with a broad range of clients and clinical concerns, bringing steady expertise to complex challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, family difficulties, relationship issues, and parenting concerns.

In recent years she has concentrated on supporting teens and young adults who are coping with depression and anxiety, while also addressing needs related to grief, addiction, sleep and eating difficulties, attention challenges, and mood disorders. Her practice emphasizes a client-centered perspective that honors each person as the expert on their own life, combined with solution-focused interventions that aim to identify practical, achievable steps forward.

Marla aims to create a warm, nonjudgmental atmosphere where people feel validated and able to express themselves honestly. She approaches care with empathy and a focus on fostering personal growth, helping clients explore their strengths and discover their own answers. Her background in play-based methods complements work with younger clients, while her experience with evidence-informed strategies supports adolescents and adults alike.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Marla Johnson

Marla draws on client-centered therapy to create a collaborative, respectful space where the client’s perspective guides the work. This approach focuses on empathy and validation, helping individuals explore their values and make choices that fit their lives. Solution-focused therapy is used to identify practical goals and small, achievable steps that move clients toward clearer functioning and improved coping, which is especially helpful when people want targeted outcomes over a shorter timeframe. Mindfulness therapy offers simple practices to increase present-moment awareness and reduce reactivity, supporting people who struggle with anxiety, stress, mood fluctuations, or difficulty managing intense emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Marla works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies as therapy progresses so clients feel involved in shaping their care.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexibility around work, school, and caregiving schedules. These formats can make it easier to fit therapy into daily life, maintain continuity during transitions, and access support from familiar surroundings while working with a licensed professional.