Joan Marsman was a horrible marriage therapist. My wife cried all the way home. A good therapist can help a marriage succeed, but a bad therapist can do damage. Damage is what Joan Marsman did. She went after the "underbelly" - the soft, vulnerable spot and, I guess, she thought she'd address it with blunt force. I was aghast, and my wife was in tears...and my wife doesn't cry easily. No tools, no exercises - Joan Marsman just went after one of the most sensitive issues we had - and that's after a one-on-one I had with her where I explicitly told her that this was an emotional soft spot and has a deep-rooted history. No prep, just blunt force and no tools on how to repair afterward. We knew there might be times when things might get emotional, but we never expected Marsman would pit my wife and me against one another. That's not therapy; it's incompetence. Two years later, we are separating. That's not Marman's fault (entirely), but my wife said yesterday that she was the turning point in our relationship from which she never recovered. After that experience, going to another therapist was out of the question for her. Thus we received no further help out of the fear of things worsening. Once bitten, twice shy, so to speak. We went in hopes of improving our relationship, not putting a nail in the coffin of our relationship. Maybe you'll have better luck. Personally, I wouldn't risk it - your relationship is too important. Try someone else. As the review below suggests, she's helped at least one other, but now two reviews say to go elsewhere. You choose, and I wish you and your relationship all the best, no matter who you see.

I’m so happy we found Joan! My partner and I had been drifting apart after 17 years of marriage and we finally decided to see someone about it. Joan’s straightforward approach has helped us immensely with our communication issues and I can feel the intimacy resurfacing in our everyday lives. Joan provided us with the tools to work through our problems and rebuild our relationship, while being there for us every step of the way. Joan is an incredibly kind, thoughtful, and brilliant therapist. We highly recommend her!

She was by far the worst therapist I have ever spent my money on. We had 4 sessions together and when I told her I wanted all my money back because I was paying out of pocket and I wasn't happy with her services she got upset. She said she spent time with me and wouldn't refund my money. I left because she is condecending and only speaks of herself. She came recommended by my family doctor. I have gone back to my doctor and told her to not refer anyone to her. She is rude and mean