Marika Dillon, MA, LPCC, ATR-BC

Marika Dillon, MA, LPCC, ATR-BC,  is a clinical counselor and a registered, board-certified art therapist. She has nearly 20 years of professional counseling experience in providing counseling, consulting, and coaching services to diverse populations. She is dedicated to creating safe, supportive, creative spaces that encourage deep shifts and transformations for the people she works with. She currently has a private practice and works as a contractor in addition to teaching at SWC. 

In 2002, Marika received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and visual design from Lynn University in Florida with Honors. During her time in graduate school, she worked as a wilderness therapist and at the College of Santa Fe in Residential Life before obtaining her master’s degree in art therapy from Southwestern College. She completed internships at Open Hands day treatment program in Santa Fe, PB&J Therapeutic Preschool in Bernalillo, and Equest Counseling Center in Cuyamungue. After obtaining her master’s degree, Marika gained experience working with children, teens, adults, and families through her work at Equest Counseling Center, Su Vida (MST and outpatient), and Presbyterian Medical Services (youth and family therapist and school-based therapist).

Since then, she has worked as a university counselor at the University of Alaska Anchorage; in schools, Child Development Centers, and military installation settings with military populations as a government contractor in the United States and overseas. She has supervised students and new professionals working toward licensure, worked for multiple online/telehealth/startup companies, and ran a private practice as the sole therapist in a small rural town in the Florida panhandle. After traveling for work and moving numerous times to different states, where she met each state’s individual licensure requirements (NM, CO, WA, AK, FL), Marika has settled near the mountains in Colorado Springs, CO.

She has a strong clinical background that includes many years of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of clients of all ages and demographics.  She’s provided experiential therapies including art therapy, play therapy, TRM/Somatic Experiencing, and NFT.  Marika also has experience as a retreat leader, presenter, course instructor, and group facilitator.

For downtime, Marika is active in her own personal spiritual growth and practice; enjoys being active in her community; maintaining connections with friends and colleagues; and learning how to be a better and better partner, parent, and human citizen.

She looks forward to each of her classes, from getting to know the incredible students to watching connections form while individuals learn and grow with each other into their new professional identities.