Who We Are
Marilyn J. Meyer, MA, MA (formerly Owen)
Marilyn J. Meyer, MA, MA (formerly Owen)
Marilyn J. Meyer, MA, MA (formerly Owen)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #41344
and Clinical Supervisor
marilyn@soulcenteredgrowth.com
(805) 413-4895
Robert Schetter, MS, MSW
Marilyn J. Meyer, MA, MA (formerly Owen)
Marilyn J. Meyer, MA, MA (formerly Owen)
About Marilyn
Some identity things about me that might be important to you: I am a cisgender straight woman and affirming ally; a creative and performing artist; a teacher; a mother, a sister, an ex and current wife.
Some issues I’ve been challenged by and learned from: weight and body image; divorce; chronic pain and autoimmune illness; codependency; anxiety; family dynamics around neurodivergence/ADHD/depression/addiction; grief and loss.
Some ideas that have influenced and shaped me: the psychology of Carl Jung; the intensives of Marion Woodman; the writings of Clarissa Pinkola Estes, James Hillman and James Hollis (and many more); the somatic training of Pat Ogden and Kekuni Minton; the practices of Buddhism; the poetry of Mary Oliver, David Whyte, and Rainer Maria Rilke.
Practice Focus
My clients are often un-mothered women realizing they don't know how to nurture themselves, self-reflective young people figuring things out, caregivers and helping professionals experiencing burnout, mid-life professionals needing to come to terms with childhood trauma and neglect, couples wanting support in navigating conflict patterns, and older adults eager to discover new parts of themselves after menopause and retirement.
Our lives “out there” are fast and furious, with little time to sink down into authentic presence. Our work “in here” means creating that time and space to listen deeply to the body, the heart, and the soul for what is really wanted…what has been yearning to be heard and felt..sometimes for years or even decades.
Yes...we might be doing some inner child work. ;)
Education & Training
Clinical Educator, Speaker, Trainer
Clinical Educator, Speaker, Trainer
- BA English/Creative Writing, Cal State Univ, Fullerton
- MA Theatre Arts, Cal State Univ, Fullerton
- MA Counseling Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute
- EMDRIA approved Basic Training in EMDR
- Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
- Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy for Chronic Pain
- BodySoul Rhythms
- DreamTending
- Sandplay
- Over 30 years of reading and continuing education in Depth Psychology, trauma, and creative expression of soul
Clinical Educator, Speaker, Trainer
Clinical Educator, Speaker, Trainer
Clinical Educator, Speaker, Trainer
- Adjunct Faculty, Pacifica Graduate Institute
- Clinical Supervisor, Center for Psychotherapy and Integral Health
- Former Adjunct Faculty, Antioch University
- Clinical Consultation Groups
- 40+ years as a teacher, speaker, and trainer in the Humanities, Arts, and Psychology
Singer/Songwriter Duo
Clinical Educator, Speaker, Trainer
Singer/Songwriter Duo
Marilyn and Bob are partners in life and music as The InVocations, a folk/Americana duo performing in the Santa Barbara area. After decades of full-time adulting, they are finally reclaiming their creative lives!
They have an album of original music, Always Listening, steaming everywhere and on their website. "My Well is Deep" and "You're Ok, It's All Right" are subtly connected to mental health themes.
About Bob
Bob came to his profession with a desire to "change the world" and an intuitive understanding of how the arts were essential to healing. He also saw how social structures affected personal growth and development. He was an early champion of student-centered education versus the industrial model focused on rigid conformity. In that spirit, he created his own undergraduate degree at University of Michigan in "Artistic Therapy", and then obtained an MS in Clinical Psychology before completing his Master's in Social Work. As a musician, he has stayed true to the belief that creative self-expression is necessary to self-fulfillment.
His career path led him to work with the developmentally disabled in residential care, and incarcerated populations in state prison. He has developed a deep understanding of how trauma leads to "bad" behavior in the eyes of society, how prison systems retraumatize inmates, and how our attitudes toward developmentally disabled persons restricts their engagement in the world. In addition, Bob has worked with the elderly and other diverse groups in community private practice. Bob's history with his own disability has afforded him insight and empathy for the challenges of the disabled.
In addition to being committed to expanding his clinical repertoire, Bob is a devoted guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Having played in bands since he was a teenager, he understands the deep love musicians have for their art, and the profound challenges of being a creative person. Due to his experiences on production teams, Bob is uniquely qualified to work with those in the film industry.
Practice Focus
Bob has received training in DBT, EMDR, IFS, and other trauma based approaches. His interpersonal practice focuses much more on Somatic and non-verbal approaches to therapy and healing "a la" Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk. Bob is particularly interested in working with post-prison clients, those with developmental disabilities, adults working on attachment issues and specific traumas, as well as artists, musicians, and writers in search of their creative soul. His personal strengths include a deeply grounded presence, patience, and a keen intellect that perceives the many layers of the human soul.