About Me

Marriana’s work lives at the intersection of science and story, where nervous system patterns meet the unseen narratives we carry. With a deep belief in the healing power of presence, she helps clients explore not just what is painful, but what holds meaning. She creates a space where emotions are not a problem that need to be solved, but rather information that carries insight into who we are. Her approach honors both the practical tools of modern psychotherapy and the quieter wisdom of symbols and archetypes.

She began her work over a decade ago on suicide prevention hotlines, later providing intensive in-home therapy to children and families in Detroit. She earned her graduate degree in clinical social work with an emphasis in psychodynamic theories from Wayne State University (2017) and opened The River Within in 2022 to offer a more personal, creative, and holistic space for healing.

She believes healing can’t be separated from the environments we live in: economic, political, spiritual, social, cultural, and familial systems shape how we move through the world and how we see ourselves.

Grounded in clinical social work, her practice draws on modern neuroscience and attachment research, combined with mindfulness and somatic tools, to support clients in regulating overwhelming emotions. At the core of her work is the question: What does this mean for you? This is where deeper symbolic and narrative work comes in- exploring the personal meanings beneath our patterns, pain, and desires, and helping each person reconnect with their own inner compass.

She splits her time between Naples, Italy and Ann Arbor, Michigan, offering telehealth sessions to teens and adults. In-person sessions upon request while in Michigan.