Meet Annika Marshall, PhD, LMFT

Hi, I’m Annika (she/her, pronounced On-Ik-Ah).

I am the owner and founder of Orange County Relationships.

To me, therapy is a sacred space and I am honored each time someone entrusts me with the privilege of being their therapist. I have come to find that therapy is the exploration of the psyche (the inner world or soul) of an individual, couple, or family.

My specialty is couples and relationship therapy, where I bring a compassionate and collaborative approach to helping people deepen their emotional connection with themselves and others. I have a particular passion for working with deep thinkers and feelers as they navigate identity, purpose, and relationships. As a wife and momma to twin four year olds, I also have firsthand insight into the complexities and joys of parenthood and long-term partnership.

In addition to my private practice, I am also a full-time faculty member at Pepperdine University, where I teach in the online Clinical Psychology Program with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy.

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Education

  • PhD in Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia (2016-2020)

  • MA in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Pepperdine University (2014-2016)

  • BS in Family Studies and BS in Psychology, Weber State University (2010-2014)

License Information & Therapy Specializations

California (#146725)

Utah (#13475111-3902)

South Carolina (#7983)

In my therapeutic practice, I utilize:

  • Liberation and Systemic Focused Therapy

  • Attachment Theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • An Experiential and Relational Approach

  • Gottman Method

  • Communication Theory and Psychoeducation

A woman with dark brown hair sits on a brown sofa in front of white curtains, wearing a dark blazer and pants with a white top.

Professional Experiences

I have had many roles that have contributed to my expertise helping people. I:

  • Teach graduate level clinicians in training at Pepperdine University in the online Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis of Marriage and Family Therapy Program

  • Developed and taught relationship education courses for couples and single parents

  • Hosted grief groups for children who have lost their parents due to death and children who are experiencing divorce in their families

  • Served as a racial and social justice advocate for Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM)

  • Completed a two year practicum at an intensive outpatient program for people with severe mental illness and coexisting substance use disorder

  • Worked as an overnight care staff at a luxury in-patient mental health treatment facility

A happy family of four on a rooftop, with city buildings in the background. The father and mother each hold a young child, and they are all smiling at the camera, dressed in casual beige and white clothing.

My therapeutic presence is enriched by my personal experiences as a mother to twin toddlers and a wife to a loving partner (we just celebrated 9 years together). Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending time at the beach, playing tennis, painting, thrifting, and delving into podcasts and books on culture and relationships.

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