Dr. Marianna Leavy-Sperounis

I believe that therapy can be a space to feel understood and challenged, find relief, reflect, and grow—in yourself, your relationships, and your world. And I believe that making the decision to seek therapy is an honest and brave one. I am so glad you’ve landed here, and I hope to support you on this path. Patients find that I am active in our work together, and that I blend exploration of emotions and insights with warmth, curiosity, and humor. I think of therapy as a relationship and a collaboration: Together, we recognize where you struggle and where you shine, understand what you seek, make sense of your experiences now and in the past, develop awareness, access feelings, and explore new ways of relating and connecting. — ABOUT ME — I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from George Washington University and a Master in City Planning from MIT. I completed my pre-doctoral internship at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School and my post-doctoral fellowship at Boston College University Counseling Services. I trained as both a child and adult psychologist and have advanced training in perinatal mental health from Postpartum Support International. I work in both English and Spanish. I started my career in community organizing and city planning. In 2014, I began providing direct mental health services. Since then, I have woven clinical and community work together in all that I do. I have worked in Head Start, therapeutic high school, university counseling, community mental health, inpatient hospital, and private settings. This work is nourishing, challenging, and powerful. I am so grateful I get to do it. I'm a white, cisgender woman, and I think about the kinds of power I do and don't hold in different spaces. I also think about how the intersecting layers of our identities, and of our personal and ancestral histories, are inextricably linked to who we are and what we bring to therapy. To all my work, I bring an understanding of my own identities and histories, and a deep respect for the transformative power of vulnerability, interdependency, and movements for racial, economic, and social justice. — CLINICAL CARE — CHILDREN, TEENS & ADULTS I offer psychotherapy for children, teens, and adults who are grappling with depression, anxiety, identity development and exploration, life transitions, relationship difficulties, and trauma, including complex, intergenerational, and systemic trauma. When working with kids, I offer both individual therapy and dyadic child-parent care, and I collaborate with teachers, pediatricians, and other providers whenever helpful. COLLEGE/GRADUATE STUDENTS & YOUNG ADULTS A core part of my practice has always been in supporting people in this unique and complex life stage. It is a time of significant development, change, and often uncertainty. As I do for all my patients, I offer therapy that is tailored to your specific needs. I attend to immediate concerns and make space for greater understanding of your identities, relationships, early experiences, exposures to trauma and oppression, and your sense of self. PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE—FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY I welcome people of all identities who are in the pre-conception, prenatal, and postpartum/4th trimester stages as you navigate the unique vulnerabilities and profound challenges of these phases. I see postpartum and the 4th trimester as self-identified experiences and not time-limited. And I recognize that while the perinatal experience is embodied by the birthing person, it is also felt and experienced by everyone in their caregiving system. In light of that, I offer perinatal care for all birthing people, partners, children with/expecting new siblings, grandparents, and other caregivers. With a background in infant mental health, I am also able to meet with parents and their babies together (online or in-person) to help you get to know and connect more deeply with your baby. I also offer home visits for parents and caregivers with newborns in the Greater Cambridge area. It's hard getting to an appointment when you have a new baby. I'm happy to come to you. And as with all of my patients, I am always glad to work collaboratively with other clinicians and people you consider part of your care team. Please feel free to reach out if you or someone in your family is trying to conceive, pregnant, or postpartum and struggling with depressed mood, grief, anxiety, panic, irritability, anger, negative or frightening intrusive thoughts, difficulty sleeping when there is an opportunity to sleep, or challenges connecting with your baby, partner, and others. You are not alone and you will get better. I also welcome those who are seeking a 1-2 session perinatal mental health wellness visit (i.e. "I am going through a major life change, and I want to make sure I am caring for my mind and my heart."). — COMMUNITY CARE — SUPERVISION I offer supervision to mental health workers across a range of disciplines (counseling, psychiatry, psychology, social work, etc.). I particularly enjoy supporting early career clinicians who seek to bring a wider psychodynamic and justice-oriented lens to their work. COMMUNITY CONSULTATION I support grassroots community organizations seeking to enhance the mental health impacts of their organizing efforts—for community members and organizers. TEACHING I am a Teaching Associate at Harvard Medical School, where I teach a seminar for Cambridge Health Alliance Psychology Interns on intergenerational trauma in dyadic child-parent work. I have published work on both city planning and social psychoanalysis. I have also given invited talks on social psychoanalysis, the applications of intersectionality theory to clinical practice, and the applications of critical theory to the study of child development. I enjoy both research and teaching. — FAQs — What is a PsyD? PsyD is short for Doctor of Psychology. It is a doctoral-level degree emphasizing intensive training in clinical care, integrated with training in the critical analysis and development of research. How long does therapy last? I see patients for short- and long-term work. Sessions are usually once/week, with options to meet more or less frequently. Together, we can decide what frequency and duration makes the most sense for you. When can you meet? My current appointment openings are on weekday mornings and early afternoons. Do you offer online appointments? I currently offer telehealth appointments only. I expect to offer in-person appointments in Cambridge, MA later in 2025. Do you take insurance? I do not currently take insurance, but I am glad to help you prepare submissions for out-of-network insurance benefits. I will also offer you a list of helpful questions to ask your insurance provider when inquiring about your benefits. If you would like to use your insurance, please reach out and I can provide you with information about my timeline to becoming paneled with certain plans.