Marah McAleer, LMFT, LMHC
Founder & Clinician (She/Her)
Non-judgemental & collaborative approach
Therapy should be accessible and comfortable for everyone, and as such, I promote LGBTQ + equality, support all expressions of gender identity, and believe in body positivity and Health At Every Size (HAES). I believe that each person is the expert of their own life- and it’s a privilege to be a part of your journey and recovery. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting more out of life by taking responsibility, enhancing self-awareness, and working toward change.
Hi, I'm Marah
I founded Insightful Counseling, LLC to help meet the growing need for high-quality, person-centered, trauma-informed, and affirming mental health care. No matter who you are or how you identify, you are welcome here.
You are enough.
Therapy works best when you’re connected with someone who truly feels like a good fit. I aim to be transparent about who I am, how I work, and the areas I specialize in, so you can make an informed decision and feel confident that your time, energy, and investment are being well spent.
My approach to therapy is practical, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based care. I primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Behavioral Activation (BA) to help clients create meaningful, lasting change. Rather than just talking through problems, we focus on understanding the patterns that keep you stuck and actively working to shift them.
I tend to be direct and engaged in sessions, offering guidance, structure, and real-time strategies you can use outside of therapy. At the same time, I prioritize creating a space that feels supportive, nonjudgmental, and honest, where you can talk openly about anything without feeling like you have to filter yourself. Treatment is always tailored to you, your goals, and your pace, with an emphasis on building skills that help you handle uncertainty, tolerate discomfort, and move toward the life you want.
Areas of Specialty
Obsessive compulsive Disorder (OCD)
I specialize in treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold standard, evidence-based approach for reducing obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Treatment is active, collaborative, and tailored to you. We’ll identify your specific obsessions and compulsions, build a personalized exposure plan, and practice gradually facing fears while reducing rituals, reassurance-seeking, and rumination. The goal isn’t to eliminate uncertainty, but to help you respond to it differently so OCD has less impact on your life. I work with a range of OCD presentations, including contamination, harm, relationship OCD (ROCD), and taboo intrusive thoughts, and aim to create a space where nothing you’re experiencing is “too much” to talk about.
Anxiety Disorders
I work with individuals experiencing a range of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and specific phobias. Treatment is grounded in evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure-response prevention strategies. Together, we’ll identify patterns of worry, avoidance, and reassurance-seeking that keep anxiety going, and gradually shift your response to them. Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety entirely, the focus is on helping you tolerate uncertainty, face feared situations, and build confidence in your ability to handle discomfort so anxiety has less control over your life.
Depression
I help individuals navigate depression using practical, evidence-based approaches like Behavioral Activation (BA) and CBT. Depression often pulls people into cycles of withdrawal, low motivation, and disconnection from things that once felt meaningful. In our work, we’ll focus on gently re-engaging with your life in manageable ways, even when motivation is low, while also addressing unhelpful thought patterns that can deepen depressive symptoms. The goal is to improve mood by increasing connection, structure, and a sense of purpose over time, not by waiting to feel better first.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, USF
Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy, USF
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, USF
CREDENTIALS
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (#MH17711)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#MT4026)