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.

My specialty is couples and relationship therapy, where I bring a compassionate and collaborative approach to helping people discover 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.

A woman in a brown blazer sitting on a brown sofa with a silver laptop, smiling at the camera, with a notebook and pen beside her, in front of sheer white curtains.

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:

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

  • Attachment Theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy

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.

Get Started

Schedule a Free Consultation