Meet Annika Marshall, PhD, LMFT
Hi, I’m Annika (she/her, pronounced Ah-nih-kah).
I am a private practice therapist and the founder of Orange County Relationships (OC Relationships), established in 2024.
To me, therapy is a sacred healing 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. 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.
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)
Parts Work - Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Professional Experiences
My therapeutic approach is informed by over a decade of diverse experience across the clinical, academic, and community advocacy sectors. Currently, I teach the next generation of marriage and family therapists as a Visiting Clinical Professor of Psychology, Online MAP/MACLP Programs in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology(2025-present). My clinical foundation began in high-acuity settings including completing a practicum within an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders. During my doctoral studies at the University of Georgia, I spent four years developing and facilitating evidence-based relationship education programs for couples and single parents, while simultaneously serving as a racial and social justice advocate with the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement. My experiences blend systemic advocacy, academic rigor, and diverse clinical experience allows me to view clients through a holistic, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed lens.
My therapeutic presence is enriched by my personal experiences as a mother to twin four-year-olds and a wife to a loving partner. 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.
