Marilyn Saunders, Ph.D.

Moved from Bethesda, MD to Whidbey Island in Washington State in December, 2004. Her credentials have included:

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the State of Maryland

Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board for Certified Counselors

Advanced Clinician in Imago Relationship Therapy

Psychotherapist in private practice in Bethesda, MD specializing in imagery and couples' work

Designer and facilitator of the Shaping the 21st Century program.

Dr. Saunders has been working with imagery since 1976 and has formulated NEaR Imagery Therapy using the themes of nurturance (both giving and receiving), empowerment (claiming one's strengths and talents), and reconciliation (rediscovering wholeness). In her practice she uses this approach with individuals, couples, and groups. Marilyn has coauthored a book on NEaR Imagery Therapy, Using Imagery in Therapy: A Path to Nurturance, Empowerment, and Reconciliation, and has made numerous presentations at national and international conferences and meetings.

Marilyn's work with the Shaping the 21st Century Program has helped participants

• face change creatively,
• develop a hopeful view of the future,
• understand the current period of rapid change within a larger context,
• envision a world that works for all,
• connect their personal and spiritual growth and development to social responsibility and action,
• and think about individual and collective roles in creating a 21st century which is just, compassionate, ecologically sustainable, and fun.

Marilyn was trained in Imago Relationship Therapy by Harville Hendrix in 1993. Her relationship coaching includes

• couples who are doing well and want to strengthen their relationship,
• those who are committed to staying together and struggling hard,
• and those who are separating or divorcing.

Several attribute the success of their relationship to the skills they learned while working with Marilyn.

She also provides

• career counseling,
• training for other mental health professionals,
• and seminars and consulting for groups and organizations.

In her 25 years of practice her clients have included women and men dealing with relationship, career, and other life challenges including depression, anxiety, anger, phobias, attention deficit disorder, obesity, anorexia, thyroid problems, cancer, and other physical diseases. All work with her to improve the quality of their lives. Her work with various groups and organizations has helped them enhance their communication and creativity and clarify their purpose and mission.

Marilyn was a Peace Corp Volunteer in Somalia in the late '60s, has belonged to several professional organizations, and for eight years directed a two-week camp for inner city children through her church. She has also been active in the Institute of Noetic Sciences founded by Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell for the purpose of exploring human consciousness and is currently doing volunteer work for Global Citizen Journey, a non-profit organization building bridges of peace through grassroots connections. In addition, Marilyn is a lifelong amateur musician and a cat lover. She has a son and daughter-in-law from Somalia and is the proud grandmother of their son.

msaunders@skillsforthe21stcentury.com