Faculty

Helen Marlo, Ph.D.

Professor of Clinical Psychology and Gerontology

Office location:	Ralston Annex
Office hours:	By Appointment
Phone number:	(650) 579-4499
Fax:	(650) 577-9577
Email:	hmarlo@sbcglobal.net
Jump to:	Education History Courses Taught Research and Interests Recognitions Professional Affiliations Workshops & Presentations Community Activities Publications

Biography

Dr. Marlo is Professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology and Gerontology and Director of the Master’s of Science in Clinical Psychology Program. She has been on the faculty at NDNU since 1999. A faculty scholar with the NDNU Dorothy Stang Center for Social Justice and Community Engagement, her academic work cultivates learning through socially conscious education, professional training, and community engagement. She is the Reviews Editor for Jung Journal: Culture and Psyche, and is an Adjunct Research Faculty member at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, where she serves on dissertation committees.

Since 1990, she has taught undergraduate and graduate students at the University of South Carolina; Palo Alto University (formerly, the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology); The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology; and the San Francisco School of Psychology.

Dr. Marlo is a licensed clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst (certified through the C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco), and maintains a private practice in Burlingame, CA, where she provides long-term and brief psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and consultation to adults, infants, children, and professionals. Her diverse clinical and academic work has provided training and experience in many modalities. She integrates a depth psychological and developmental perspective into her professional services and works with individuals in a variety of ways to best meet their therapeutic needs. This may involve brief or long-term psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, consultation, and psychoeducation. It may incorporate hypnosis, guided imagery, meditation, dreamwork, mindfulness, relaxation training, sandplay, somatic interventions, spiritual work, wisdom and contemplative traditions, and the creative, expressive arts into her services. She provides education, consultation, and training to professionals, students, and organizations on numerous topics especially reproductive mental health and wellness and trauma.

Following an academic background in Psychology and Religious Studies, Dr. Marlo earned her doctorate in Clinical-Community Psychology at The University of South Carolina, where she researched psychneuroimmunology, and integrative therapeutic approaches to psychological and physical health. Dr. Marlo’s doctoral and post-doctoral training focused on psychotherapy, developmental psychopathology, including severe and complex mental illness and trauma; lifespan developmental psychology, trauma, integrative and behavioral medicine, health psychology, particularly reproductive mental health, neuropsychology, and psychodynamic psychology.

Dr. Marlo trained and worked in both private and public institutions, such as Stanford University School of Medicine, The Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health Care System, Kaiser Permanente Health Care System, and The University of South Carolina’s Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. She worked with the full range of psychiatric and psychological problems. Her clinical training experiences emphasized reproductive mental health issues, including perinatal problems (i.e. prepartum and postpartum anxiety, trauma, depression, bonding/attachment), birth trauma, pregnancy and infant loss, stillbirth, infertility, and obstetric/gynecological illnesses, as well as trauma (i.e. severe and complex trauma, including childhood, attachment, relational, physical, and sexual trauma); mind-body problems; and lifespan developmental issues.

Given Dr. Marlo’s interest and experience in reproductive mental health, she established, “Emergence: Reproductive Mental Health Services,” www.emergencementalhealth.com to address reproductive mental health needs in women, their children, and partners. Emergence promotes awareness and education of reproductive mental health issues; provides integrated mental health services; offers professional training to professionals and students, and contributes free community service to mentor and support mothers and infants. She is passionate about engaging with individuals during this vulnerable and influential time of life. She is a consulting psychologist with Dolphin Yoga and Doula Center which provides perinatal services and trains birth professionals.

She has had a long-standing interest in the art and science of birth, healing, and transformation, and synthesizes her interests in developmental psychology and psychopathology, psychoanalysis, spirituality and world religions, contemplative and wisdom traditions, neuroscience, the humanities, integrative and behavioral medicine, and psychoneuroimmunology, into a depth-oriented approach to her clinical practice and teaching.

In the community, she is a volunteer for HealthRight International and provides clinical services for victims of torture and trauma. She serves on the Patient-Family Advisory Council for Mills-Peninsula Medical Center. She was a long-standing Board Member for Deep Streams Institute, a Zen Buddhist institution providing training for psychotherapists; community service; and peace building activities which sponsors the Coming Home Project, a psychospiritual program, serving Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

She and her husband enjoy life with each other and their three lovely children, (two daughters and a son), and relish time for play. Dr. Marlo enjoys her close relationships, art, culture, travel, reading, film, yoga, meditation, and dance.

Education History

University of Missouri—Columbia, B.A.
University of South Carolina—Columbia, Ph.D.

Courses Taught

Psychology of Adjustment and Personal Growth
Trauma, Crisis, and Recovery
Psychoanalytic Treatment of Trauma: An Integrative Approach
Advanced Psychotherapy Skills: A Psychodynamic/Jungian Approach
Developmental Psychology: Infancy through Childhood
Developmental Psychology: Adolescence through Adulthood/Geriatrics
Psychology of Marriage
Biopsychosocial Aspects of Addiction
Diagnosis, Assessment, Referral of Addictions
Substance Abuse and Dependence
Advanced Clinical Seminar
Communication and Counseling Skills
Psychotherapy Theory and Research
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Group Psychotherapy
Group Experience
Cross-Cultural Issues
Psychopathology and Psychodiagnosis
Abnormal Psychology
Survey of Personality
Professional Ethics and Law
Clinical Case Seminar
Clinical Case Practicum

Research and Interests

Reproductive Mental Health (perinatal problems, birth trauma)
Integrative and behavioral medicine
Trauma
Developmental psychology and psychopathology
Psychotherapy
Psychoneuroimmunology

Recognitions

Tenure, 2011
Faculty Scholar, Dorothy Stang Center for Social Justice and Community Engagement, 2011
Notre Dame de Namur University, Ten Year and Five Year Service Recognition Award, 2006, 2011
Gronowski Outstanding Faculty of the Year, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1998
Summa cum laude, Distinguished Academic Achievement, University of Missouri, 1989
Honors Scholar, Dept. of Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 1989

Professional Affiliations

C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco
California Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology
The Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health
The International Society for the Study of Traumatic Stress

Workshops & Presentations

Marlo, H. (2012, Jan.). Mentoring Mothers: Perinatal Psychology and Issues: Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress. Mills-Peninsula Hospital. OB-GYN Continuing Education Program. Burlingame, CA.
Marlo, H., Walters, B., Herlekar, S., Castrillion, F. (2011, September). Contemporary Psychoanalysis: An Unwitting Instrument of Spiritual Sensibilities. California Institute of Integral Studies, Integral Counseling Psychology Department, San Francisco, CA.
Fatum, B., & Marlo, H. (2011, April). Parenting with Emotional Intelligence. Woodland School, Portola Valley, CA.
Marlo, H. (2010, November). Psychic Birth: A Narrative of Transformative Analytic Work. Fall Symposium Speaker, The Psychotherapy Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
Marlo, H. (2010, February). Meet the Professors: Becoming a Psychodynamic Clinician-Professor. Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Redwood City, CA.
Marlo, H. (2009, November). Psychological Aspects of Birth and Birth Trauma. Presentation at Dolphin Yoga and Doula Center, Hillsborough, CA.
Marlo, H. (2009, September). Birth and the Emergence of the Self: Symbolic and Developmental Perspectives. Presentation at The Psychotherapy Institute, Berkeley, CA.
Marlo, H. (2009, July). Birth Psychology: Pre-partum and Post-Partum Considerations. Presentation at Dolphin Yoga and Doula Center, Hillsborough, CA.
Bobrow, J., (Dec., 2008). Retreat/Group Facilitator with the Coming Home Project for: The Art of Cultivating Self-Care and Well Being—A Retreat for Service Providers. The Mercy Center, Burlingame, CA.
Marlo, H. (2008, June). Psychology of Motherhood: Pre-Partum and Post-Partum Issues. Presentation at Dolphin Yoga and Doula Center, San Mateo, CA.
Marlo, H. (2008, April). Spirituality and Trauma. Paper presented and moderator for the Transforming Trauma: Psychological and Spiritual Pathways to Healing Conference with Joseph Bobrow; Donald Kalsched; Jack Kornfield; and Ann Ulanov, Deep Streams Institute and The Coming Home Project, San Francisco, CA.
Marlo, H. (2008, March). Contemporary Soul in Practice: One Woman’s Evolving Narrative. Presentation at the Embodied Wisdom: Jung, Neuroscience, and Authentic Movement—Multidisciplinary Prospectives with Joan Chodorow, Dyane Sherwood, Tina Stromsted, and Margaret Wilkinson, C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
Marlo, H. (2007, March) Balancing Life with Children. Little Wonders, Parent-Child Cooperative, San Mateo, CA.
Marlo, H. (2006, May). Vicarious Traumatization. Women’s Recovery Association, Burlingame, CA.
Marlo, H. (2006, April). Adjusting to Parenthood. Little Wonders, Parent-Child Cooperative, San Mateo, CA.
Marlo, H. (2005, October). Wellness for Parents. Little Wonders, Parent-Child Cooperative, San Mateo, CA.
Marlo, H. (2005, April). Law and Ethics. The Peninsula Training Collaborative, Burlingame, CA.
Marlo, H. (2005, March). Child Development. The Peninsula Training Collaborative, Menlo Park, CA.
Marlo, H. (2004, November). Law and Ethics. The Peninsula Training Collaborative, San Mateo, CA.
Marlo, H. (2004, November). Law and Ethics in Depth Psychology: Clinical and Professional Issues. The Women’s Recovery Association, Burlingame, CA.
Marlo, H. (2004, January). Ethics in psychotherapy: Developmental considerations. The Women’s Recovery Association, Burlingame, CA.
Marlo, H. (2003, October). Ethics as a process of integrity: Integrating developmental contributions. The Transitional Program, Palo Alto, CA.
Marlo, H. (2000, December). Psychotherapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Trauma. Chinatown Child Development Center, San Francisco, CA.
Marlo, H. (2000, October). Working with Trauma: Utilizing Psychotherapy and Sandplay for Healing. Richmond Area Multi-Services Center, San Francisco, CA.
Marlo, H. (2000, February). Case Presentation: Psychological Dynamics, Transference and Countertransference in the Complex Pain Patient. Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Pain Management Center, Palo Alto, CA.
Marlo, H. (2000, January). Psychological Dynamics in the Complex Pain Patient: Conceptualziation and Treatment. Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Pain Management Center, Palo Alto, CA.
Marlo, H. (1999, May). Psychotherapeutic considerations in the treatment of sexual and physical abuse. College of Notre Dame, Counseling Psychology Dept., Belmont, CA.
Marlo, H. (1999, January). Managing difficult behaviors in complex patients. Emmanuel Convalescent Home, Millbrae, CA.
Marlo, H. (1998, November). Physical abuse, sexual abuse and pain: Interventions for physicians and medical professionals. Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Pain Management Center, Palo Alto, CA.
Marlo, H. (1998, October). Treating physical and sexual abuse: Implications for therapists. College of Notre Dame, Counseling Psychology Dept., Belmont, CA.
Marlo, H. (1998, September). Retaining “Eros” in erotic transference and countertransference: Integrating eroticism in clinical practice. Mills Peninsula Hospital Continuing Medical Education Staff Program, Burlingame, CA.
Marlo, H. (1998, September). Psychotherapeutic approaches for individuals with psychoses and severe mental impairment. The Transitional Program, Palo, Alto, CA.
Marlo, H (1998, April). Retaining “eros” in erotic transference and countertransference: Integrating eroticism in clinical practice. Paper presented at the 18th annual spring meeting of the Division of Psychoanalysis, American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
Marlo, H. (1998, May). Psychotherapy with adolescents and young adults: Developmental and psychological considerations. College of Notre Dame, Counseling Center, Belmont, CA.
Marlo, H. (1998, May). Transference, countertransference and the treatment of sexual abuse. College of Notre Dame, Counseling Psychology Dept., Belmont, CA.
Marlo, H. (1998, April). Transference, countertransference and relational issues in treating abused individuals. Community Health Awareness Council, Mountain View, CA.
Rivera, P. & Marlo, H. (1998, January). Cultural, interpersonal and psychodynamic factors in caregiving: Towards a greater understanding of treatment non-compliance. Poster presented at The Challenge of Psychological Practice in a Multicultural Society symposium, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Marlo, H. (1997, January). Treating physical and sexual abuse: Recommendations for health care professionals. Presentation at Planned Parenthood, Menlo Park, CA.
Marlo, H. (1996, October). Utilizing a harm reduction approach in psychodynamic psychotherapy and case management of the dually diagnosed patient. Presented at the National Harm Reduction Conference, Oakland, CA.
Marlo, H. (1996, August). Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy. Presented at the Intern Training Program at California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA.
Marlo, H. (1995, January). Depression: Phenomenological, conceptual, diagnostic and psychotherapeutic implications. Presented at the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, SC.

Community Activities

HealthRight International Volunteer
Patient-Family Advisory Council, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
Reviews Editor, Jung Journal: Culture and Psyche,
Consultant, Dolphin Yoga and Doula Center
Consultant/ Facilitator, Psychotherapy Training Group,
Consultant/ Facilitator, Depth Psychology Group
Former Board Member, Deep Streams Institute, and the Coming Home Project
Former Instructor, Peninsula Training Collaborative
Former Executive Committee Member, Colleague Assistance and Support Program,
Former Facilitator, Parent’s Support Circle, Unitarian Universalist Church of San Mateo

Publications

Marlo, H. (2007). Coming into the Heart of Mind. Jung Journal: Culture and Psyche, 1, 3, 55-65.
Marlo, H., & Kalinian, H. (2002). Utilizing psychoanalytic psychotherapy in the treatment of substance abusers. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 9, 211-223.
Marlo, H. (2000). On wounding and being wounded. The California Psychologist, 33, 12, 12.
Marlo, H. (2000). Countertransference check-up. San Diego Psychologist, 9, 7, 11-12.
Marlo, H. (2000). Countertransference check-up. The California Psychologist, 33, 4, 12.
Marlo, H., & Wagner, M. (1999). Expression of negative and positive events through writing: Implications for psychotherapy and health. Psychology and Health, 14, 2, 193-215.
Rivera, P., & Marlo, H. (1999). Cultural, interpersonal and psychodynamic factors in caregiving: Toward a greater understanding of treatment non-compliance. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 3, 63-68.
Marlo, H., & Kline, J.S. (1998). Synchronicity in psychotherapy: Unconscious communication in the therapeutic relationship. Psychotherapy, 35, 1, 13-22.
Edited Numerous Reviews and Publications in Jung Journal: Culture and Psyche

Doctoral Dissertations

Desai, Faith (in progress). Transpersonal Experiences and the Emergence of Transpersonal Motherhood. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Shelton, Sydney Zink, (In progress). The Greatest Love of All: Rewriting the Mother/Daughter Legends. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Harrahy, Michelle, (In progress). The Intersubjective Impact of Traumatic Event: An Elaborative Grounded Theory Contributing to Emerging Theories of Interpersonal Development. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Huffman, Anne, (In progress). Eternal Youths: A Narrative Inquiry into the Buffering Effects of a Generational Cultural Complex against the Anxiety of Aging and Death in the American Baby Boom Generation. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Joyce, Diane, (In progress). An Exploration of the Invariant Structural Themes that Facilitate a Description of the Alchemical Experience of Massa Confusa. The Institute of Interpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Deak, Zsolt, (2011). The Master-Disciple Relationship as a Metaphor for Healing in Psychotherapy: Exploring Archetypal Transference Between Therapist and Patient. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Shemesh, Keren, (2011). Attachment Patterns in Parents Partaking in Parent-Child Conjoint Therapy. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Gray, Chanda (2011). Psychological and Spiritual Factors Influencing Childbirth. Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Hill, Jennifer (2011). Synchronicity and Grief: The Phenomenology of Meaningful Coincidence as it Arises During Bereavement. The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Akahori, Michiko, (2010). Women’s Meaningful Dreams: A Bridge between their Dream Life and Waking Life. Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Bruja, Jennifer, (2010). Mindfulness Meditation in the Treatment of Eating Disorders. Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Schlarb, C. (2004). The Nature of Childhood Peak Experiences and their Non-Assimilation into the Child’s Developing Identity. Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Lynch, K.S. (2002). Each Age a Lens: A Transpersonal Perspective of Emily Dickinson’s Creative Process. Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
Rossie, K.M. (2002). Songs on the Mind as Messages from the Unconscious. Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA