Therapeutic Approach & Style
Dr. Marshall believes in individualized treatment for each client she encounters. There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach at Inspire Psychology. Instead, Dr. Marshall draws from a toolkit of evidence-based frameworks and her clinical expertise to determine what will work best for the unique person in front of her.
At Inspire Psychology, our work is grounded in several of the most well-researched and widely respected frameworks in modern clinical psychology: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Each of these approaches brings something distinct to the table, and together they allow us to meet a wide range of needs with both precision and care.
Beyond the modalities, what defines the experience of working with Inspire Psychology is our style. Therapy here is a collaborative process where open communication and feedback are not just welcomed, they are strongly encouraged. Clients are invited to reflect and share what feels like it's working, and where treatment may need to shift to better suit their evolving needs. We don't hand you a worksheet and send you on your way. We work alongside you, building a relationship grounded in trust, curiosity, and a genuine investment in your growth. Evidence-based methods provide the roadmap, but you are always the expert on your own life.
Whether you are navigating anxiety, processing difficult emotions, working through compulsive patterns, or trying to build a life that feels more aligned with your values, the approaches we use are carefully selected to support your specific goals.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is built on the premise that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. By intervening when one of those becomes unhelpful, we can create meaningful change in the other areas as well. When we are struggling, our minds can fall into patterns of thinking that feel completely true but are actually working against us. These thought patterns might look like catastrophizing, self-criticism, or assuming the worst. CBT helps you identify those patterns, examine them with fresh eyes, and replace them with more balanced, accurate ways of thinking. Ways of thinking that support more effective choices and a greater sense of wellbeing.
CBT is one of the most extensively researched therapeutic approaches in existence, with decades of evidence supporting its effectiveness for anxiety, depression, and a wide range of other concerns. At Inspire Psychology, CBT isn't delivered as a rigid protocol. It is adapted to fit your specific patterns, your life, and your goals.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a skills-based approach developed to support people who experience emotions with particular intensity. If this sounds like you, DBT could be a great fit! DBT is built on the idea that you can accept yourself exactly as you are AND work toward meaningful change at the same time. These two things are not in conflict - they are actually the foundation of growth. Self-acceptance empowers us to make meaningful change.
Through DBT, you will build practical, concrete skills across four core areas: Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Together, these domains help you stay present in the moment, manage overwhelming emotions, tolerate distress without making things worse, and strengthen your relationships. These are tools you can reach for in real moments when life feels unmanageable. Whether you are navigating emotional overwhelm, struggling in your relationships, or finding it hard to cope when things get hard, DBT offers a clear and compassionate path forward.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
What if the goal of therapy wasn't to eliminate difficult thoughts and feelings, but to change your relationship with them? That's the foundation of ACT. Rather than fighting against anxiety, sadness, or self-doubt — which often makes those experiences louder, not quieter — ACT teaches you to acknowledge what you're feeling without letting it drive your decisions or define your life.
ACT helps you get clear on what truly matters to you: your values, your relationships, the kind of person you want to be. From that foundation, you build the psychological flexibility to move toward what matters even when life is hard, uncertain, or painful. The result isn't a life without struggle — it's a life where struggle no longer holds you back from living fully. ACT is particularly powerful for anxiety, depression, life transitions, and anyone who feels stuck in patterns they can't seem to think or willpower their way out of.
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)
If you live with OCD or significant anxiety, you may already know the exhausting cycle: something triggers a fear, anxiety spikes, and you do something — avoid, check, reassure yourself — to make the feeling stop. It works in the short term. But over time, avoidance teaches your brain that the fear was real and worth escaping, which makes the cycle stronger, not weaker.
ERP works by gently and systematically breaking that cycle. Rather than avoiding the things that trigger anxiety, you learn to face them in a gradual, supported way — and crucially, to sit with the discomfort without engaging in the behaviors that temporarily relieve it. Over time, your brain learns that the feared outcome doesn't materialize, and that you are capable of tolerating uncertainty and discomfort without it being catastrophic. ERP is considered the gold standard treatment for OCD and is highly effective for phobias and other anxiety-related concerns. It is challenging work — but it is also some of the most transformative work we do.