Mariann Dunbar
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Madison, Wisconsin. I work with adults who are trying to make sense of themselves, their relationships, and what comes next, especially after experiences that have left them questioning their own judgment, identity, or sense of who they are. I have extensive experience working with complex trauma, narcissistic and emotionally abusive relationship dynamics, personality disorders, divorce, career changes, and other major life transitions. I’m particularly drawn to working with people who have spent a long time adapting to difficult relationships or living according to roles and expectations that no longer fit.
I follow the thread of what is actually happening with you rather than applying a formula.
I also love working with college students and adults who are asking some version of: Who am I when I’m not being who everyone else needs or expects me to be? My style is curious, direct, thoughtful, and deeply human. Therapy with me isn’t about sitting across from someone who simply nods and takes notes. We’ll look closely at what’s happening, make connections, challenge what needs challenging, and leave room for humor along the way. Outside the therapy room, I’m endlessly curious about people, history, relationships, and the complicated ways we become who we are. I believe the best therapy happens when two people can show up honestly and do meaningful work together. That’s what I try to bring to every session.
First session
Your first session is yours. There is no expectation that you arrive with everything figured out, the perfect explanation for why you’re here, or even a clear idea of where to begin. What you can expect is a real conversation with a real human being who is genuinely curious about you — not just your diagnosis or your history on paper, but you. We’ll talk about what brought you here, what you’ve already tried, what hasn’t worked, and what you’re hoping might be different this time. I’ll ask questions, follow the threads that seem important, and probably make you laugh at least once. You don’t need to perform wellness or find the “right” words. You just need to show up as you are. We’ll figure out the rest together. By the end of our first session, my goal is simple: that you leave feeling genuinely heard, perhaps seen in a way you didn’t expect, and cautiously hopeful that this might actually be different.
Strengths
What stands out most is that I show up as a full human being in the room. I’m warm, direct, and nonjudgmental, and I will gently challenge you when challenge is what you need. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. I follow the thread of what is actually happening with you rather than applying a formula. One of my strengths is helping clients understand what’s underneath what brought them to therapy: the old wound that may be fueling the anxiety, the identity question beneath the relationship problem, or the survival mechanism that once protected you but may now be holding you back. Some of the most meaningful moments in therapy happen when someone feels safe enough to say the thing they haven’t been able to say anywhere else. I work hard to create that kind of space, because that’s often where things begin to change.
Ideal clients
I’m best positioned to work with people who have never quite fit the mold: those with complex histories, who have struggled to find a therapist who truly gets them, or who have spent too much of their life feeling “too much” or difficult to understand. I particularly enjoy working with survivors of toxic or emotionally abusive relationships who are ready to reclaim their sense of self, adults navigating childhood and intergenerational wounds, and people whose concerns live at the intersection of trauma, relationships, identity, and self-worth. My practice is LGBTQ+ affirming, kink- and poly-aware, and welcoming of people with body modifications, alternative subcultures, and pagan or Wiccan spiritual practices. These things don’t have to be why you’re coming to therapy. Sometimes you simply want a therapist who understands they’re part of your life without requiring you to explain, defend, or edit them. My ideal client is curious about themselves and ready to do meaningful work. You don’t need everything figured out, but you do need to be willing to look honestly at yourself and consider that what once helped you survive may not help you build the life you want now. I work best with people who value honesty over platitudes and want a therapist who shows up as a person rather than a blank slate. I’m direct, warm, curious, and willing to challenge you while also helping you recognize growth that can be surprisingly hard to see in yourself. If you’ve ever left a therapist’s office feeling unseen, misunderstood, or like you had to edit yourself to be acceptable, you may have found the right place.
Origin story
My path to becoming a therapist was shaped in part by my own experience sitting on the other side of the therapy room. I learned firsthand how frustrating and isolating it can feel when the person who is supposed to be helping you doesn’t quite “get” you. That experience stayed with me. I wanted to become the kind of therapist who sees the person before the diagnosis: someone who is invested, willing to stay present when things get complicated, and not intimidated by the messier parts of being human. I don’t believe therapy is something that simply happens to a client. It’s a relationship, and I consider it a privilege to walk alongside someone through the difficult parts, be there for the changes that happen along the way, and celebrate with them when life begins to feel like their own again.
Ongoing work together
Our work will evolve as you do. Some sessions may focus on what’s happening in your life right now; others may take us into the relationships and experiences that helped shape how you move through the world. We’ll make connections between the two and pay attention to what’s changing along the way. Progress in therapy isn’t always a dramatic breakthrough. Sometimes it’s recognizing a pattern before you’re already caught in it. It’s setting a boundary without spending three days questioning whether you were allowed to. It’s trusting your own perception, responding instead of reacting, or realizing that something that once completely unraveled you simply doesn’t have the same power anymore. We’ll talk openly about what’s helping, what isn’t, and whether our work is still taking you where you want to go. My goal isn’t for you to become a “better” version of yourself. It’s for you to understand yourself more deeply, have more choice in how you live, and eventually need me less.
Treatment methods
Eclectic
My approach is eclectic and integrative, which really means I don’t believe every person needs the same kind of therapy. I draw from psychodynamic therapy, DBT, CBT, ACT, Schema Therapy, Gestalt, and trauma-informed approaches, but the person sitting in front of me matters more than the acronym. Sometimes we need concrete skills to deal with what’s happening right now. Other times we need to look backward and understand where something began. We might challenge a belief you’ve carried for years, notice a relationship pattern you hadn’t seen before, or end up talking about a much bigger question of identity and meaning. The approach isn’t predetermined. It’s shaped by your history, your goals, and what is actually useful to you.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions936 Jenifer St, Madison, WI 53703
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- WisconsinLicense 10567 - 125