Marla Stromberg, M.Sc.
BABCP Accredited Cognitive-Behavioural Therapist
Marla Stromberg is an accredited cognitive-behavioural therapist in Canary Wharf providing face to face as well as online cognitive-behavioural therapy.
My Background
Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little about me.
Hi! I’m Marla Stromberg and I am the founder of CBT Canary Wharf. I wear two hats; I manage the practice and I am also the lead clinician.
I was born in Canada, and at the age of twenty-four, I left Canada for London with nothing but a backpack on my back; it was only meant to be a three-six months adventure, but I fell in love with London and decided to make it my home. I have been living in London for over 33 years.
My personal experience as an expat means that I understand the personal and professional challenges that expats face when they move abroad and try and set up a life for themselves, and their family.
My academic background is in both Education and Psychology. I completed my CBT training in 1994 at University College London’s (UCL’s) Academic Department of Psychiatry. The UCL Behavioural Psychotherapy course was the first CBT course to be set up in the UK. It ran from 1970-2002.
What Sets CBT Canary Wharf Apart From Other CBT Practices?
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- Your Privacy-it matters to me. When I set up my practice, I made the decision not to hire any administrative support, as I wanted to protect my clients’ privacy and ensure that the only person they would need to speak to about anything, was me. I will be your first point of contact, as well as your last. There are no middlemen or gatekeepers. Just you and me. This is how I ensure absolute confidentiality from the start of your therapy experience, till the very end. This sets me apart from the larger therapy practices in Canary Wharf, and in London.
- I am an expat-many of my clients are expats, and I understand the challenges, both personally and professionally that come with moving abroad and trying to build a life for yourself and/or your family.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little about me.
Hi! I’m Marla Stromberg and I am the founder of CBT Canary Wharf. I wear two hats; I manage the practice and I am also the lead clinician.
I was born in Canada, and at the age of twenty-four, I left Canada for London with nothing but a backpack on my back; it was only meant to be a three-six months adventure, but I fell in love with London and decided to make it my home. I have been living in London for over 33 years.
My personal experience as an expat means that I understand the personal and professional challenges that expats face when they move abroad and try and set up a life for themselves, and their family.
My academic background is in both Education and Psychology. I completed my CBT training in 1994 at University College London’s (UCL’s) Academic Department of Psychiatry. The UCL Behavioural Psychotherapy course was the first CBT course to be set up in the UK. It ran from 1970-2002.
What Sets CBT Canary Wharf Apart From Other CBT Practices?
-
- Your Privacy-it matters to me. When I set up my practice, I made the decision not to hire any administrative support, as I wanted to protect my clients’ privacy and ensure that the only person they would need to speak to about anything, was me. I will be your first point of contact, as well as your last. There are no middlemen or gatekeepers. Just you and me. This is how I ensure absolute confidentiality from the start of your therapy experience, till the very end. This sets me apart from the larger therapy practices in Canary Wharf, and in London.
- I am an expat-many of my clients are expats, and I understand the challenges, both personally and professionally that come with moving abroad and trying to build a life for yourself and/or your family.
How May I Help You?
You may be wondering whether I am the right therapist for you. And you should be wondering this very thing, because it’s important to find a therapist who is right for you.
Finding the right therapist is a big task, and you may be wondering how I can help you. What is my USP?
I would have to say that my USP is that I am a purist when it comes to my therapeutic modality; CBT. Unlike other therapists who have trained as Counselling Psychologists (where they learn about many therapeutic modalities), CBT training courses specialise in CBT theory and practice. So when you seek therapy from someone who has only trained in CBT, you can be certain that your CBT sessions will be grounded in cognitive-behavioural theory. We don’t offer watered down versions of CBT.
Why is this important?
This is important because for many emotional problems, CBT has the strongest evidence base. And so when you choose a therapist who is a CBT purist, it means that they will be relying on CBT theory and CBT principles (evidence based practice) to treat you.
My other USP is that I am easy to talk to-this may sound trite, because the assumption is that all therapists should be easy to talk to. But apparently, and according to the feedback I receive from my clients/patients, this is not so. I have had clients say to me “you are the first person I’ve shared this with”-even though they’ve had therapy before. I feel honoured that my clients trust me enough to open up to me about their most private thoughts and emotional experiences.
You may be wondering whether I am the right therapist for you. And you should be wondering this very thing, because it’s important to find a therapist who is right for you.
Finding the right therapist is a big task, and you may be wondering how I can help you. What is my USP?
I would have to say that my USP is that I am a purist when it comes to my therapeutic modality; CBT. Unlike other therapists who have trained as Counselling Psychologists (where they learn about many therapeutic modalities), CBT training courses specialise in CBT theory and practice. So when you seek therapy from someone who has only trained in CBT, you can be certain that your CBT sessions will be grounded in cognitive-behavioural theory. We don’t offer watered down versions of CBT.
Why is this important?
This is important because for many emotional problems, CBT has the strongest evidence base. And so when you choose a therapist who is a CBT purist, it means that they will be relying on CBT theory and CBT principles (evidence based practice) to treat you.
My other USP is that I am easy to talk to-this may sound trite, because the assumption is that all therapists should be easy to talk to. But apparently, and according to the feedback I receive from my clients/patients, this is not so. I have had clients say to me “you are the first person I’ve shared this with”-even though they’ve had therapy before. I feel honoured that my clients trust me enough to open up to me about their most private thoughts and emotional experiences.
If you have been feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, debilitated by depression and haven’t been coping as well as you normally do, with day to day tasks and responsibilities, you have come to the right place.
I have been treating individuals just like you, for nearly 30 years. You may see yourself as someone who normally copes quite well with the pressures of daily life, but all of a sudden, you’ve experienced a severe bout of anxiety that you just can’t shake. In fact, you probably feel debilitated by your anxiety.
Perhaps you’ve recently been promoted, and with your promotion comes added responsibility, public speaking and networking-activities you would rather do without! I hear you, and again, I’ve helped others like you in this very position.
Anxiety, depression, stress, overwhelm, irritability, anger are all emotional problems that CBT sessions can help you with. Regardless of the emotional problem you are experiencing, I would love to have the opportunity to help you.
My style of therapy is structured, action oriented and solution-focused. I will spend the first 2-3 sessions getting to know you and developing an understanding of your struggles, and together we will develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual problems.
My approach to therapy is flexible in that I adapt my approach to your needs. If, at any time I think that we have come as far as we can, or that you would benefit more from a different therapeutic approach, I will let you know.
How CBT Canary Wharf Got Started
I have been living in East London since 2000 and for the most part, have always had very long commutes to work. In 2006 I was fortunate enough to secure an NHS job fifteen minutes from home, which I was thrilled about.
Eighteen months into that job, I decided to leave the NHS and set up a private practice in Canary Wharf. I had done my research into what mental health services (specifically CBT) were available in Canary Wharf, and certainly at that time, there weren’t any CBT practices in the area.
And so after some considered thought, and much preparation and planning, CBT Canary Wharf was established.
I love working with my Canary Wharf clients-I work with some of the sharpest, brightest sparks around. But I have to say-I’ve also learned over the years that regardless of how intelligent we may be, we may not always be the best at looking after ourselves. The drive to succeed often compromises our mental health. This is where I am come in, to help restore the balance.
Although my office is based in Canary Wharf, you do not have to work in Canary Wharf to come and see me. I welcome clients from all over the country.
Education and CBT Experience
I am very proud of my academic achievements and my CBT experience. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was not a top student in high school, and I think my parents wondered whether I would graduate, let alone go to university!
However, the most important lesson that I have learned from my academic journey, is this: when you discover what it is you really love to do, and you create an optimal learning environment for yourself to do it in, you can turn it all around.
Regardless of past experiences!
My Journey
My journey to becoming a cognitive-behavioural therapist really started in the 80’s. Throughout my teens and early twenties I always chose jobs that involved caring for children (as a counsellor at summer camp, as an au pair/mother’s helper) etc.
So when it came time to choosing a specialism at university for my Bachelor degree, it was an obvious decision; Early Childhood Education (ECE). However, during my ECE degree I became more interested in abnormal development, and the problems that children develop, as a result of a less than optimal early environment. So I made the decision to take as many elective classes in psychology as I could, to learn more about abnormal development and psychopathology. I really loved studying psychology and despite having failed Maths in high school-I did enjoy Statistics-go figure! And that is how I transitioned from studying early childhood education to studying psychology.
After my BA. (which I proudly obtained with Distinction and made the Dean’s list) I decided it was time for a break from studying, so I packed a backpack and left for London on the SWAP programme (Students Working Abroad) for what was only meant to be a 3-6 months working holiday stint. However, after a few weeks I decided that I really loved London, and wanted to make it a more permanent base. So I decided to stay here, and continue my education, instead of returning to Canada.
I applied for a place on the M.Sc in Experimental Methods in Psychology course at UCL and was accepted (yay)! and I passed (another yay)! It was at that time that I decided I wanted to transition into the clinical sphere of psychology (running experiments was a blast but I wanted to work with people). Having said that, my final project/thesis was clinical in nature, specifically, my project focused on “the relationship between balance system dysfunction and panic symptoms”, and was supervised by the very distinguished health psychologist Lucy Yardley.
So I applied for a place on the UCL CBT course and was accepted (another yay)!
It was probably no surprise that the kind of psychotherapy I decided to train in was CBT, given CBT is evidence-based; coming from a research background, I was all for evidence-based therapy.
Membership of Societies/Professional Organisations/Accreditations
- British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)-Accredited Member
- British Psychological Society-Graduate Member (GMBPsS)
- British Psychological Society-Special Group in Coaching Psychology-Member
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy provided by an Accredited CBT Therapist
The CBT Register is accredited by the PSA and has met the standards and care of the PSA. You can feel confident in knowing that when you choose an accredited therapist on the CBT register, your therapist is on a register that has been vetted and approved, and is committed to providing you with the highest standard of care.
Education
| Academic moments I am most proud of | |
|---|---|
| Making the Deans List-B.A., Child Studies (Distinction), Concordia University, Montreal, Canada | 1990 |
| Graduating with Distinction and with one of the top 6 GPA’s in the Education Department, Concordia University | 1991 |
| Receiving my M.Sc in Experimental Methods in Psychology, University College London (UCL) | 1993 |
| Attaining highest grade in my class (4/5) on behavioural psychotherapy course (Middlesex Hospital’s Academic Department of Psychiatry, UCL) | 1994 |
| Applying for and getting onto a doctoral programme in Clinical Psychology in Chicago, USA. | 1994 |
| Completing my first year of doctoral programme with a 3.97/4.00 GPA | 1995 |
| Education and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| B.A., Child Studies (Distinction), Concordia University, Montreal, Canada | 1990 |
| Visiting Student (Dept. of Psychology), Goldsmiths’ College, University of London | 1991 |
| M.Sc in Experimental Methods in Psychology, University College London (UCL) | 1993 |
| Certificate in Behavioural Psychotherapy, Middlesex Hospital, UCL | 1994 |
| Conversion Diploma in Psychology (London Guildhall University) | 1997 |
| Certificate in Coaching (Centre for Coaching, London) | 2010 |
| Certificate in Stress Management and Performance Coaching (Centre for Stress Management and Centre for Coaching, London) | 2010 |
Jumping Through Hoops
My academic journey was nothing short of hoop jumping. Anybody who has moved to a different country or who tries to move from one academic specialism to another, knows that it isn’t always an easy transition.
I consider myself an expert in hoop jumping because I’ve had to do so at least twice in my academic career; once before securing a place on my Masters course (I had to take a few psychology classes as a visiting student) and then years later, at the age of 30, I attended London Guildhall University and completed a Conversion Diploma in Psychology (I lived in Halls with a bunch of 18 year olds:).
I also understand how it feels to be tied down by work permits and to not have the flexibility and freedom to move around job-wise. Yup-I have been there too! I had two or three different work permits before I finally obtained my UK residency, and then eventually my UK Citizenship.
My work ethic has always been very good (this is thanks to my father who has taught me the importance of hard work). And so my attitude is this: if you want something badly enough, you’ve got to put in the hard work.
CBT Training-the early years
One of my proudest moments was when I was accepted onto the Middlesex Hospital’s Behavioural Psychotherapy course. Whilst all of the other applicants had come from a clinical background, I was the only one who was applying with a research degree! My interview panel were also wondering how I was going to make the leap and keep up with my fellow trainees, however, I reassured them that I was a hard worker, a fast learner and incredibly enthusiastic and motivated to become a therapist. And so I was given the opportunity (I call it my big break)! to study CBT and proved that I was actually, as competent and able as my fellow trainee therapists. I achieved top grades and very high clinical evaluations on my clinical work. I was also fortunate enough to enrol on the course the year before Dr. Victor Meyer (an eminent psychologist who pioneered treatment for OCD) retired from teaching.
The photo below is of me and Vic at his birthday party in London (2000), five years before he sadly passed away. When you were in his presence, he made you feel as if you were the only one in the room; whether this was with his patients, or with you as a therapist in training, he always gave you 100% of his attention (as you can see in this photo)!
Marla and Vic-photo taken at Vic’s 80th birthday in 2000
As trainee therapists we had the opportunity to sit in on assessments and observe Dr. Meyer “formulate cases”. To say that Dr. Meyer was inspiring and incredible to watch is an understatement. His ability to formulate “cases” quickly, combined with his charismatic manner, made him the expert clinician he was, and somebody I often find myself thinking about when I am sitting with my patients. My memories of my training days on Cambridge Ward at St Luke’s Hospital will never be forgotten. Twenty years later, Dr. Meyer and Dr. Ted Chesser are still hugely influencing my practice as a CBT Therapist today.
CBT Experience
I have been providing individual CBT for over twenty years and have treated individuals with a variety of mental health problems, including panic disorder (panic attacks and agoraphobia), depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, social phobia, anger difficulties, and post-traumatic stress disorder. I have held a number of posts, both within the private sector as well as the NHS.
CBT Experience with Groups
I love running CBT groups; the interaction amongst group members as well as the energy of a group, makes them rewarding and fun. Even the most difficult topics to deal with (depression, for example) can seem a little more bearable for group members, knowing that they are not alone and others can relate to how they are feeling. I believe there is great value in group therapy.
I have developed and run the following CBT groups: Overcoming Depression, Overcoming Panic Disorder, Perfectionism, Anger Management and Core Beliefs. I also co-ran a group for patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
Work settings
Private Hospitals
My first full-time post was at the Priory Hospital. I quickly established myself as a group enthusiast; I loved running CBT groups. I developed a lot of material in the form of handouts and worksheets for my group members and ran a number of groups on CBT for Panic, CBT for Perfectionism, CBT for Core Beliefs.
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
In 2004-2006 I provided CBT to older adults (65+) as part of a RCT. Based in North London, and employed by University College London, I saw patients in both GP surgeries as well as in their homes. The study was funded by The Health Foundation and was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009; 66(12):1332-1340).
National Health Service
Before going into full-time private practice in 2007, I held an NHS post at East London and City Mental Health Trust. From 2006-2007 I worked on the Newham Demonstration Site of the IAPT (Improved Access to Psychological Therapies) Service.
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme is aimed at supporting Primary Care Trusts in implementing National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.
I was one of seven therapists employed to work on the pilot project, providing CBT assessments and treatment to a population who would normally have difficulty accessing mental health services. I assessed and treated patients from different socio economic and cultural backgrounds and also worked with interpreters. Prior to this Service being set up, there was limited CBT on offer in Newham, and those that did receive it, were usually placed on a long waiting list. The aim of IAPT was, and is to make CBT more accessible on the NHS. As a result of the success of the Newham and Doncaster demonstration sites, the government has provided funding for CBT in many boroughs across the UK.
Find out whether you can access CBT on the NHS
Find out more about IAPT
Find out more about the Demonstration Sites
Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
As an accredited member of the BABCP, I adhere to the Ethical Guidelines set out by the BABCP, and refer you to the BABCP website for the following information:
What is CBT?
Standards of Conduct and Ethics
Course Accreditation
Continued Professional Development
As part of the requirements for maintaining my accreditation with the BABCP, I also attend conferences and workshops throughout the year in order to maintain my skill base. I also attend regular clinical supervision as part of my own professional development.
Learn more about my approach and who I treat
