Random image

bgskyline1

Dr. Marlene Winell is a psychological consultant, educator, and writer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is available for speaking engagements, counseling sessions in Oakland or Berkeley, and telephone counseling. Her background includes 28 years of experience in human services, in both community and academic settings. She holds a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University. She is the author of Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving their Religion.

More about Marlene Winell

Welcome & Overall Approach

Welcome

Thank-you for visiting my website.  You will find information here about who I am, my services, events, writings, and media.    In my counseling work with individuals, couples and groups, my approach is compassionate, yet direct and action-oriented.  I assume a basic respect for a client's intuitive abilities and strengths,  emphasize building a therapeutic relationship of trust, and focus on helping clients actively engage with the existential challenges of life. More about my approach and services.

Updates

Updates

  • Leaving Your Religion?

    It's not the end of the world!
    Join us for a powerful weekend with others 
    who can understand and support you.

  • Rediscover Sensuality

    Techniques in Touching to Revitalize Relationships


         The skin is the most overlooked and underemployed sex organ of the human body. There are many areas of the body that you may consider nonsexual that respond pleasurably to stroking and caressing. To start developing comfort with touching and being touched, a simple massage of the skin is a good place to begin. A massage of the neck, the face, the temples, the eyes, the back, the buttocks, the legs, and even the feet may be pleasurable and nonthreatening. You may want to soak your feet in a container of soapy water while your partner massages them.

  • Before you try to communicate

    Do you ever feel like someone else doesn’t seem to have a grasp on reality? And in particular a partner you are trying to have a relationship with?

    I do a lot of work with couples and I like to tell a story before we get started on any communication skills. I believe improvements in relationship involve behavioral changes but also some profound shifts in attitude. This story illustrates Step 1.

  • New Recovery Website in Development: Recoveryfromreligion.org

    As many of you know, recovering from harmful religious indoctrination can be a difficult process.  It helps to know you are not alone and discuss issues with others.  At present, there are quite a few excellent websites with testimonials and debates. People are challenged to think for themselves and many books are suggested that challenge authoritarian religious systems.

    We believe there is still a need for a website with resources and services designed to help people emotionally heal from the damage of toxic religion.  In addition to the intellectual work needed to get free of old beliefs, there are psychological and interpersonal areas of growth that need attention. 

Syndicate content