BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Marcella Marcey has worked in psychology since 1972, when she received her first master's degree. She worked as a school psychologist in Fairfax County, Virginia, for thirteen years. In 1988, she returned to school to earn a second master's degree and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University. She has since maintained a private practice for over 20 years.
In addition to seeing clients individually, she also provides couples and family counseling and group therapy.
She currently leads support groups for loved ones of homicide victims for the Virginia Victims Assistance Program. Dr. Marcey wrote her dissertation on the long-term effects of experiencing the traumatic death of an individual or loved one, with particular emphasis on loss by homicide and other sudden deaths. She has extensive experience working with the surviving family members of homicide victims.
She often uses trained therapy dogs in her practice, as they serve as important companions and allow distressed clients to feel safe, comfortable, and welcome. She maintains a 'dog-friendly' practice and usually brings her dogs to work daily.
Outside her private practice, Dr. Marcey is an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and Laurel Ridge Community College.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Dr. Marcey approaches therapy from an eclectic and ecological orientation. She bases her approach on the client’s needs while considering all the forces influencing development. Her primary orientation is cognitive behavioral, and she also integrates interpersonal, dialectical behavioral, EMDR, IFS, and guided imagery techniques into her practice. She has a strong background in developmental psychology and presently teaches that course to college students. With over 40 years of experience in the field of clinical psychology, she also uses many techniques that have been developed for the treatment of trauma. Her primary aim is to provide what the client needs to get better, and she will try different approaches to meet the needs of each client. Dr. Marcey is a life-long learner, constantly engaged in continuing education. As such, she is always learning about the latest approaches to psychological treatment to integrate into her work with clients.