Marikay is always positive, reinforcing, and helpful. I never feel judged. I had a therapist once who said something to me in a session and I felt judged. Marikay is l experienced in her field and does a great job.
Marikay Gazda, LCSW
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Marikay is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 5.0 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Marikay. View 19 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Illinois
Recent reviews
This experience was needed to see other people are struggling similarly to me. It’s a weight off my chest. Marikay is amazing and is always willing to provide feedback regardless of what is happening in my life. I’m blessed to have her in my journey to health.
More about Marikay
- 35 years' experience
- Female
- LCSW
Hello!
Welcome to our BetterHelp Community and congratulations in taking that courageous first step in feeling better! My name is Marikay Gazda and I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1991. Through these many years I have provided counseling to those experiencing feelings of generalized anxiety, depressed thoughts, feelings of isolation, chronic or life threatening medical conditions, end of life issues, caregiver stress and fatigue and general life transitions. As a Certified Grief Counselor I have worked with individuals struggling in their feelings of grief and loss who feel stuck in moving on. But I have also found that those physical and psychological responses felt in grief is not unique to a death, as loss can be found across the board in relationships, health, a job or simply an empty nest. Those feelings of sadness, anxiety, depression and physical symptoms can certainly be generalized to any type of loss as it impacts an individual's ability to engage in a full and happy life.
My demeanor is warm, compassionate, interactive and positive. I consider the client/therapist relationship to be the most important element to a successful therapy experience. As a clinician, my approach is client centered, goal oriented and grounded in a strengths perspective. I use the models of Emotional Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy in helping my clients understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behavior and creating goals to effect a change. In my work with grief and loss the Duel Process Model teaches a client to regularly "take breaks" from their feelings of loss while the Continuing Bonds Model works towards creating new meaning and a new relationship within the loss.
My goal as a therapist is to partner with you in an empathetic and safe space and that each interaction leaves you hopeful that change can occur. I wish you all the peace that your day can bring knowing that you have taken that first step in feeling better.
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Grief
Depression
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
Relationship issues
Self esteem
Aging and Geriatric Issues
Attachment issues
Cancer
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain illness and disability
Communication problems
Emptiness
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Hospice and End of Life Counseling
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Self-love
Treatment Approaches
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Marikay Gazda's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1023558582.
- LCSW · Illinois · 149.004372 · Expires November 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.
Reviews for Marikay Gazda
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Marikay is always positive, reinforcing, and helpful. I never feel judged. I had a therapist once who said something to me in a session and I felt judged. Marikay is l experienced in her field and does a great job.
This experience was needed to see other people are struggling similarly to me. It’s a weight off my chest. Marikay is amazing and is always willing to provide feedback regardless of what is happening in my life. I’m blessed to have her in my journey to health.
She is amazing I don’t know how to describe it but it’s like I can talk to her about anything and know she’s not judging me but understanding me and my mind and then she gives me tools and things to help me! I couldn’t have asked for anyone better!
Marikay Gazda is truly a kind soul that is an active listener with true clinical knowledge of when to nudge you into expanding feelings or challenging thoughts. This person alone is why I would recommend or return to the Betterhelp.
Marikay is respectful and offers great support! She was very helpful during a difficult transition in my life.
Marikay is such a thoughtful listener. She is supportive, encouraging and offers helpful suggestions. I came to therapy overwhelmed by motherhood and my many life responsibilities. I feel Marikay understands me and also give me suggestions to make life more joyful!
Marikay was wonderful and really helped me navigate my grief after losing my husband. She was very caring, supportive and I was very comfortable talking to her.
Yes very nice and kind and i really love hearing from her
Marikay is a gem to see. She always helps me talk through my concerns and address ways to get through them and cope. She has such a lovely warm personality.
She is so sweet, thankful to have her.
She is the best therapist I’ve had so far!
Marikay is very kind and understanding and is easy to connect with. A pleasure to have treatment and sessions from.
She’s very easy to talk to and listens.
Marikay is a great listener. Is very kind and has been a great help to me.
Marikay is the best of both worlds when it comes to therapy - she is endlessly understanding and empathetic, but also knows how to structure therapy so that your conversations are productive. She utilizes evidence-based practice, provides extra resources, and puts the things into words that I can't. She also checks in once a week at least - even if I don't reach out to her. She is a well-rounded, reliable person to have in your corner. I cannot recommend her enough.
Life saving
Marikay has been super supportive and helpful throughout my journey. She listens to what I have to say and does not try to pressure me into doing something that I am not ready/comfortable for yet. She has helped guide me to being ready to take some plunges that make me nervous/anxious.
Marikay not only has the framework that you expect from a therapist such as listening skills, perspective thinking, and understanding of cognitive psychology/behaviorism...but also is willing to be flexible and make the time to work around your schedule to be available.
Marikay Garda is a god send! She has one of the most influential and helpful people in my life.
Frequently asked questions
Does Marikay Gazda offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Marikay Gazda works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Marikay Gazda speak?
Marikay Gazda speaks English.
How many years of experience does Marikay Gazda have?
Marikay Gazda has 35 years of experience.
Where is Marikay Gazda licensed to practice?
Marikay Gazda is licensed to practice in Illinois.
Does Marikay Gazda accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Marikay Gazda does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Marikay Gazda offer?
Marikay Gazda offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Psychodynamic Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Marikay Gazda?
Marikay Gazda can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Marikay Gazda?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.