Mara Chow
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Therapist & Clinical Psychologist
I help individuals and couples navigate anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, and life transitions with clarity and confidence. Bilingual (English/German), I offer warm, collaborative, goal-focused therapy.
I specialise in:
About me
Hi, I’m Mara.
I know what it feels like to start over in a new place—to carry two languages, two cultures, and the tension between belonging and longing. Originally from Germany, I spent 20 years living and working in Los Angeles, California, where I trained and practiced as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Now back in Germany, I offer both online and in-person psychotherapy for individuals and couples, including couples counseling, locally and internationally in English and German.
Living as an expat—and now returning as a repat—has given me firsthand insight into identity shifts, cultural transitions, and the emotional challenges of life changes. I understand the anxiety, burnout, grief, and relationship struggles that often accompany these experiences. These personal and professional experiences inform my trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach, creating a space where clients feel truly seen, heard, and supported.
I work with adults, teens, and couples facing anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, burnout, substance use, and relationship challenges. My approach is warm, collaborative, and goal-oriented, focusing on emotional resilience, healthy coping strategies, and meaningful connection.
Together, we explore your story, strengthen your emotional well-being, and build a life that feels balanced, authentic, and connected—where you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Learn more at www.marachow.com.
I speak:
Location:
Media Gallery
Approach
I provide trauma-informed, attachment-based therapy for individuals, couples, and families seeking meaningful and lasting change. My approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment-focused interventions, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to support healing, emotional balance, and stronger relationships.
For individuals, I help clients navigate anxiety, depression, burnout, life transitions, relationship stress, and emotional overwhelm. Using CBT, we examine the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors—identifying unhelpful patterns and building practical skills to reduce distress, improve coping, and increase resilience. Through a trauma-informed and attachment-centered lens, we also explore how early experiences and relational dynamics may be shaping present challenges.
For couples, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), developed by Sue Johnson, an evidence-based, attachment-based model designed to help partners strengthen emotional bonds, improve communication, repair trust, and move out of negative cycles. EFT helps couples feel more secure, understood, and connected.
Across all my work, I recognize how family systems, cultural context, and social environments influence emotional well-being. I believe every individual—and every relationship—has inherent strengths, resilience, and the capacity for growth. Therapy is a collaborative process where we build insight, develop healthier coping strategies, strengthen emotional regulation, and create more secure and fulfilling connections.
My goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and culturally responsive space where clients feel empowered to heal, grow, and build a more balanced, connected, and meaningful life.
Experience
Aug. 2020 - Present KLINISCHE PSYCHOLOGIN / HEILPRAKTIKERIN (PSYCHOTHERAPIE) / LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST www.marachow.com - Private Practice; Hamburg, Germany
May 2015 – Jul. 2020 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST Wellnest/Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic – Community Mental Health Services; Los Angeles, CA
Sep. 2013 – Dec. 2014 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY TRAINEE Counseling Partners of Los Angeles – School-Based Counseling Services; Los Angeles, CA
May 2010 – Jul. 2013 INTAKE COORDINATOR / COUNSELOR / CASE MANAGER Didi Hirsch – Community Mental Health Services; Los Angeles, CA
Jan. 2009 – May 2010 MANAGING DIRECTOR LA2DAY – Online Lifestyle Magazine; Brentwood, CA
Jun. 2008 – Feb. 2009 MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR OCM – Content Development for Websites; West Hollywood, CA
Education
01/2022 Heilpraktikerin (Psychotherapie)
01/2019
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist # 111208
06/2010 – 12/2014
Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Los Angeles, CA
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy Summa Cum Laude (12.12.2014)
02/2010 – 05/2010
Department of Mental Health America of Los Angeles, Jump Start Mental Health Fellowship, Los Angeles, CA
Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (14.05.2010)
06/2006 – 06/2008
University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Studies Summa Cum Laude (13.06.2008)
06/2004 – 06/2006
Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA
Transfer Education (10.06.2006)
10/2001 – 06/2004 Theatre of Arts, Los Angeles, CA Advanced Acting Degree (02.06.2004)
1990 – 2000 Annette-von-Droste-Hülshoff-Gymnasium, Münster Abitur (06.07.2000)
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Couple Session
Family Session
15 min Consultation
Insurances
