Marlene Rivera Rodriguez, PsyD

I am a bilingual licensed clinical psychologist, and I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. That fact is not a footnote to my work, but rather it is the foundation of it. Growing up Boricua taught me that people are best understood in community, in context, and in the language their hearts actually speak. I carried that understanding into my doctorate in clinical psychology at Adler University in Chicago, into my clinical training in community mental health and hospital settings across Illinois and Indiana, and into my current role as an Assistant Professor who is training the next generation of doctoral level psychologists. In the therapy room, I take a holistic approach. I believe the mind and body are interrelated, and I work from an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and Adlerian theory approach to help people build lives aligned with their values, even while carrying pain that cannot simply be erased. In my psychological assessment work, I bring the same care; through evaluations in Spanish or English that answer real questions, honor your story, and are written to be understood by the person they aim describe. My clinical experience includes work with Spanish speaking communities, LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, people navigating acculturation stress and complex trauma, and clients living with depression, anxiety, and other significant mental health concerns.