Octave
Marla Seals avatar
LMHCshe/her

Marla Seals

VirtualHigh Satisfaction Rate

17 years of experience

Verified by Octave
In Illinois
+ 2 other states
Accepting 9 Insurance providers

Meet Marla

I bring a down-to-earth, approachable presence to therapy and place the utmost importance on fostering a warm and friendly, yet professional relationship with you. Since there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to therapy, I incorporate various evidence-based treatment modalities, techniques, and skills that may best meet your individual needs. Developing a strong therapeutic alliance is the foundation that will support you as we explore pathways toward your healing, develop adaptive and functional coping skills, improve your emotional regulation, and help you experience a fulfilling life, rather than just exist.

I incorporate various evidence-based treatment modalities, techniques, and skills that may best meet your individual needs.

Communication Style

  • Action-oriented
  • Affirming
  • Empowering
  • Open-minded
  • Warm

Specialties & Approaches

Specialties

Focus Areas

  • BIPOC
  • Black community

Approach

Locations

Virtual appointments available for Georgia, Illinois, and Washington residents

Good to know

Session Details

Additional

Interests

Insurance Accepted

Credentials & Verification

Verified by Octave

License number

Education

Calculate Cost & Insurance

$28

/ session on average with insurance

Frequently asked questions

Marla Seals accepts Oscar IL, Centivo, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Out of state BlueCard PPO, United Healthcare, United Healthcare/Optum, Cigna Healthcare/Evernorth, and Prime Health. Octave clients pay an average of $28 per session through insurance, and more than 95% pay less than $45 per session. Your exact cost depends on your plan’s copay or deductible. You can use the cost estimator to see what you would pay before your first session. If you would rather pay out of pocket, self-pay sessions in Illinois are estimated at $185-195 per session.

Marla Seals is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Marla is licensed to practice in Georgia, Illinois, and Washington, so clients located in any of those states can book sessions. Marla’s Illinois license number is 180007323, and you can look it up through the state licensing board. Octave verifies every therapist’s license before they begin seeing clients, and licenses are kept current as a condition of practicing with Octave.

Marla Seals has been practicing therapy for 17 years. Marla’s education and training include MA - Forensic Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Over that time, Marla has worked closely with BIPOC and Black community. Octave therapists average more than a decade of experience, and Marla is part of that group.

Marla Seals works with BIPOC and Black community and specializes in Anxiety, Cultural Issues/Racial Stress, Depression, Stress, Trauma, and Women's Issues. These are the areas where Marla spends most of their clinical time. If the concern you want help with isn’t listed here, a Care Navigator can tell you whether Marla is a good fit or match you with another Octave therapist who specializes in it.

Marla Seals draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic, Solution-Focused, and Strengths-Based. In sessions, Marla’s style is action-oriented, affirming, empowering, open-minded, and warm. In Marla’s words: “I incorporate various evidence-based treatment modalities, techniques, and skills that may best meet your individual needs.”

Marla Seals (she/her) offers therapy in English. Marla identifies as Black/African American.

Marla Seals offers online sessions over secure video, so you can meet from home or any private space. Marla is licensed in Georgia, Illinois, and Washington, and you need to be located in one of those states at the time of each session. All you need is a device with a camera and a stable internet connection.

Your first session with Marla Seals is a chance to talk through what brought you to therapy and what you want to work on. Marla will ask about your background, your current concerns, and your goals, and together you will start shaping a plan for your sessions. It is also a chance to see whether Marla’s style feels like a good fit for you. After their first session, 9 in 10 Octave clients say their therapy experience has been good or better.

Learn how ratings and reviews work

Octave regularly asks clients to select a rating based on their experience about their provider about their therapy sessions. Providers are prohibited from soliciting reviews from their clients.

Only clients who have completed a session with this provider can leave a rating for them.

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Ready to start with Marla?

Most new clients have their first session within a week. You can change therapists at any time, at no cost.