Marlee Gordon, MC, LPC

A Little About Me

I grew up in a rural, woodsy town in the Northeast, and the grounding imagery of those roots continues to inspire my work today. Now based in the West Valley for the past 15 years, I find meaning in the balance between strength and softness that both landscapes teach us. In the therapy room, you’ll never catch me without my iced coffee or emotional support water bottle, my notepad, and my feelings wheel pillow! Outside of therapy, I love spending time with my family, working on puzzles, and checking out the local Saturday markets. In life, I consider myself an aspiring minimalist, “tree person,” and pop culture nerd.

Should You Work with Me?

You’re a parent of a teen, which is overwhelming to start with. Add in the pressures of school, social media, life changes, and an uncertain future, and your teen has got a recipe for anxiety on their hands. I specialize in working with teens to find a path forward while struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, parental separation, perfectionism, and self-harm.

If you’re over 18 and struggling with figuring out your next step in life, this is also the place for you. I’ll work with you to move outside of your comfort zone toward the things that matter most to you. If you’re not sure what matters most, we’ll figure it out together! There’s no right answer when it comes to your values, goals, and interests. I’m here to help you explore your own life while learning how to set aside the natural worries, judgments, and habits that might feel limiting

Curious About My Professional Background?

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Arizona with over 12 years of experience supporting teens, young adults, and families.

  • Education:

    • Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Arizona State University

    • Master of Counseling: Arizona State University

  • Early Work:

    • Began as a mentor and educator with at-risk youth before becoming a therapist.

  • Therapy Experience:

    • 4 years as a school-based therapist in North Phoenix, providing counseling and crisis intervention for high school students.

    • Led an intensive outpatient (IOP) program for teens.

    • Experience with adults including veterans, parents, and college students.

    • Served as a clinical supervisor, managing two local therapy clinics

Why I Started Meadowlight Counseling

I founded Meadowlight Counseling to be a place of authenticity, healing, and growth. I’ve seen the transformation that happens when people feel safe to explore who they are and where they want to go. The name Meadowlight reflects my vision: therapy as a calm, open space where light can shine through—even in difficult seasons.

My Approach to Therapy

We’re on a road trip together. You’ve been driving for a while, and I just hopped in the passenger seat to help you navigate. It’s been a little while since you stopped for gas, so you’re stressed about running out, and your windshield is full of dirt and bug juice, which makes it harder to see. I help you find a safe spot to pull over, rest, refuel, and clean off the car. When you’re ready to get on the road again, I pull out my map, show you all the possible routes you can take. Maybe you want the scenic route, or maybe you want the most efficient one. Whichever way you decide to go, my job is to help you get there safely.

Therapy isn’t much different from a road trip. You go through all manner of experiences in your life, painful or otherwise, that leave lasting impressions on you and can sometimes lead to unhelpful beliefs about who you “should” be or what you “can” or “can’t” do in your life. You might get stuck looking only in the rearview mirror, which can be especially dangerous if you’re trying to drive forward. I view my role in therapy as the navigator - I’m the one who helps you see the pain while also seeing the path forward. I’ll help you get a clearer view of what kind of life is most meaningful to you. I’ll never decide which route you take; only you can do that, but I will help you evaluate the different paths available and support you in your choice as you move toward your goals.

A therapy session with me looks a little different each time. Based on your treatment plan and what you need that day, I might guide you through a body-based breathing exercise, teach you a new skill or concept, offer a nonjudgmental listening ear. Sometimes I’ll challenge beliefs that have stuck themselves onto you that aren’t working for you anymore. I especially enjoy assigning “homework” between sessions. If you’re a worksheet person, that’s great. If you’re not, that’s great too. Therapy “homework” is just about keeping yourself accountable for making change and building new habits, which takes more consistency than just the 1 hour a week we have together.

Professional Training & Modalities

  • CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality)

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

  • ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

  • CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy)

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

  • DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)