Our Clients Reviews

My husband and I have been together for seven years, and even though our marriage felt loving and healthy, we agreed that we could prevent small resentments from building up—that we could air them out BEFORE they caused trouble. A little deep cleaning is good once in a while.

So, we contacted Cecile and she was perfect. Her schedule was flexible, the price was right, and we really appreciated her casual approach to what we were looking for in counseling. Cecile was willing to work with us in the context of our relationship without being judgmental. Also, her comfortable office and chairs and delicious tea made the experience feel less clinical. She is kind and warm was able to give us the support we needed.

And it worked. We look positively on our sessions and feel closer as a result. I’m glad that we can rely on her for our next seven-year deep cleaning sessions.

Claudia Figallo, MPH, LAADC-CA www.harmreductionpractice.org October 11, 2018

When my business began to unravel in my mid-60’s I was adrift. I had identified myself as a stained glass artist and had been quite successful for more than 30 years. Suddenly I was not only not selling my pieces but also not making any money. At the age of 65, this was frightening and was affecting my self esteem in a negative way. I began seeing Cecile to deal with the fallout from not feeling useful anymore and feeling displaced. As a man this also was taking its toll on my marriage and even my sex drive.

After a few weeks of seeing Cecile I started to separate fact from fiction. I realized that my art was something I still loved to do and that art for art’s sake, without a price tag, was still a part of me I would never want to change. I began to adapt my work to fit into this schematic, instead of pushing it into a mold that no longer fit. Voila! As soon as I relaxed, I began to sell pieces I had made long ago and also discovered a whole new venue for my art.

I saw Cecile with my wife a few times as well to work on our marriage and now we are experiencing an upsurge of intimacy and peace in our home. I would recommend her without reservation to anyone.

November 11, 2014

It was a rough time in our family. My son had had two children and his wife was suddenly non communicative with us in any direct way. Her needs and demands were funneled through my son who was in overwhelm mode. The whole picture was quite skewed and my wife and I were quite worried that we might lose them altogether.

I first went to Cecile alone, then with my wife and finally with my son. I admit I was fully expecting the whole mess to be unresolvable (my old Catholic way of thinking). So I was enormously grateful and thrilled that, after only a few sessions, the whole matter was resolved in a way that now seems so effortless.

It was Cecile’s skill in zeroing in on the issues, her knowledge of the ins and outs of grandparenthood and her ease in communicating and asking the right questions that transformed the family in crisis to a family in synch. You can’t do any better than Cecile for whatever it is that ails you and your family.

September 30, 2014

When my husband of twenty five years was diagnosed with multi infarct dementia, I was derailed. The love of my life was fast becoming a teen-ager in every way. I didn’t realize how pervasive and horrible this disease would be, how it could erode every facet of our life together. I admit I felt like hurting him many times and then, in abject guilt, I then felt like hurting myself.

A friend told me about Cecile Marie, LCSW. She said Cecile worked with the fallout from dementia, that she sometimes held groups as well as individual counseling. I needed one to one for a few months to level out my intense emotions and then I joined one of her groups. Because of this my attitude toward my husband has improved 100%. My attitude toward placement has improved as well. It’s not the end of the world to place someone with dementia in a board and care home; it can be the beginning of a new life for you both.

I shudder to think what I would have done had I tried to power through this one!!!! Cecile is a gemstone, a truly kind and savvy woman.

September 27, 2014

“Its a challenge to even encapsulate the work I did with Cecile. The growth was.. kind of incomprehensible, even now ten years later. I had So much damage on SO many levels, and my prior therapists used the typical tabula rasa of just sitting there and nodding, taking notes and saying very little. I wanted much more. There are those that are extremely qualified and then there are those that are called, and Cecile is called to this work.

The thing that sticks out most from our first meeting was her saying “Well you’re not in denial, so there’s a lot we can accomplish.” I was in my mid-20s, a gay male living in San Francisco and only just realizing the extent of the damage I had and how it was affecting every aspect of my life. I had the intention, and the work went far beyond therapy, but Cecile was basically the midwife for my rebirth into a healed and new version of myself.

I remember thinking I would absolutely have to have therapy for the rest of my life and I could probably never heal. Cecile would be my last therapist, and I still feel a tremendous fondness for her over a decade later. My therapy continues in the form of creating a true family based on support rather than blood relation, challenging what were once paralyzing fears, and building a really sturdy wonderful fulfilling marriage with a phenomenal man, on his own path when we met 15 years ago. I truly love this new person that I am, and while I did the day to day work, Cecile facilitated all that was necessary to make that happen. And for that I will be always grateful, beyond any words I would ever be able to express.”

September 5, 2014

“I first saw Cecile for individual counseling. I found it so valuable that years later my wife and went to her for several sessions of couples counseling. The atmosphere was relaxed and nonjudgmental. We both felt that she had really listened to us, and that she had asked questions that enabled us to come to a much better resolution of the issues we struggled with. Cecile’s wisdom, compassion, humor, and deep humanity have made an enormous impact on our lives.”

July 15, 2014

I thought if I just went on with my daily routine I would be fine and not have to face my sadness. Instead it was 4 months after the sudden passing of my Mother that I found myself filled with anger and anxiety. So many negative emotons that I could not function at work or deal with my family and friends. That’s when I met Cecile who would help me to quiet my anger and calm my anxieties. The sessions I had with Cecile gave me skills to work through my feelings and to become better at dealing with life’s tragic events. A decade later I’m still using the same skills she taught me to cope with my Dad’s long term illness. I will always be grateful for her help in navigating life.

I. T, age 43 July 15, 2014

Cecile helped me at a time in my life when my marriage, family and work were causing me to have mental and physical breakdowns almost weekly. I have seen other therapists in the past, but they didn’t really help much. I needed a woman my age or older, had been married with grown children and lived with pets. I didn’t need someone to sit there for an hour and just listen, give me advice and simply try to help me. I needed a person with a lot of life experience.

Cecile did just that. She really helped me understand that in order for a marriage to work and get what we both need, I needed to learn to respect the sexes. No matter how many years a couple has been together, men and women don’t think alike. She helped me realize that trust, communication, mutual respect and a little compromise are truly the foundations of any good relationship. Those are not easy things to achieve as I learned working with Cecile. It takes time and patience. I needed to be willing to take that time and work at it. I found after a while things changed because I changed.

My husband and I are much happier and at peace with one another now. My marriage is far from perfect, but at least now I know what to do in order to prevent things from getting ugly. I truly believe I got the help I needed when I found Cecile.

June 29, 2014

Cecile is a wonderful therapist. She truly helped me to sort out my issues and turn my life around. When I first went to Cecile I was having so much trouble sleeping at night. In our first session she taught me some breathing techniques and later that night I went home and slept like a baby. Cecile assisted me to see myself and what I needed to work on. She truly has an understanding of relationships and with her support I pulled myself out of a negative relationship and saw that I was worth so much more. Cecile’s office always felt like home. Comfortable, soothing, and a place where I always felt comfortable discussing what was on my mind with a warm cup of tea. — M.S. 36, San Francisco, CA.

June 29, 2014

I have worked with Cecile on personal and couple issues over a 15+ period year span. I moved from the Bay Area to the Midwest and still found myself having to call on Cecile to work with me. I never found anyone that help me really dig through and work on things and give me more to think about than Cecile. It is really easy to talk to her. If you are someone that is always very surface about issues, she is the ideal person to help you breakthrough to the nitty gritty of problems, repetitive behaviors that find you always at a loss or in a rut. Over the years I always seem to recall something Cecile has shared with me in our work together that help me navigate to a more whole, happier me.

June 19, 2014

Cecile did wonders for my relationship with myself and my now-fiance during pre-marital counseling. In her presence I felt safe to cry, scream, let it all out, but also to discuss my innermost feelings, fears and thoughts. She was great individually as well as with my partner. You may not feel the healing happening in real time, but it happens, and I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Cecile.

June 17, 2014

“Cecile Marie is an amazing therapist who offers an eclectic approach to wellness. During my mid 20’s she supported and guided me through a very dark and challenging time with her nonjudgemental, positive approach to life. She taught me how to trust and more importantly why vulnerability is sometimes a good thing. Because of my work with Cecile, I felt confident enough to move forward with my life goals. I’d recommend her time and time again.

Jill Essery June 12, 2014

I came to Cecile many years ago for some emotional baggage that I had been carrying around for many years. Cecile was instrumental at helping me overcome some serious fears. When the work was over I was able to continue my life in a much happier way. Then a few years later I had a niece who was battling anorexia. This was a dangerous situation and our family felt completely helpless. Cecile was my first call and now my niece is doing great. Cecile really made a difference in our lives. I can say without hesitation that she is smart, kind, competent, understanding and non judgmental. These all make her a great person to go to if you have problems. I trust her completely.

June 12, 2014

I worked with Cecile when I was in my mid-twenties and had just moved to the Bay Area from the East coast. It was a tough time for me, being far from family and friends and being unsure of a career path to follow. And then, my father passed away suddenly. Cecile helped me deal with my struggles and grief with compassion, insight and a loving perspective. She is a treasure and I carry her insights with me to this day, 20 years later.