Therapy

I always tell everyone that Luana saved my life. I can’t possibly recommend her highly enough. I had struggled with acute panic and anxiety disorder for over two years…. Luana immediately understood my situation and the constraints I was living with. She realized I wasn’t going to make it to her in Boston and decided to come out to India during her time off and help me through my problem. For me the results are nothing short of magical. In 4 days of working with her I was half way to being myself and by the time she left a week later I was nearly all back.”

Dr. Marques was able to help me to first understand and then fix deeply ingrained patterns that were irrational and counter-productive to my larger goals in life. . .The CBT method is a powerful and science-based method. It helps zero in on what is truly “broken” within your thinking and emotions and offers you the tools to build it back up. As I say to Dr. Marques – “you guys (CBT practioners) are the modern day scientific spiritual healers.”

My one-week CBT course with Dr. Luana was nothing short of life changing. An intense week spent introspecting, unpacking my own habits and behavior, coming to a deep understanding of why I do what I do. The experience was completely draining, but at the end of the week I felt lighter. The week left me with vital tools to apply once I returned to my ‘normal life’. The results have shown in every aspect of my life, both personal and professional. I would advocate this course for anyone and everyone. Whether you have a nagging problem or not. This chance to remove the layers of habit building/patterns to expose who we truly are and what we truly want, is a gain for life.”

Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your support and expert care. I feel more confident of my role within our family, understanding better how to communicate, listen and yet also hold my own within the dynamics of our unit. These are all things to be thankful for and I know they are a result of our willingness to all work hard under your tremendous guidance and support.”

Thank you again for your help and support with changing my life for the better in ways I didn’t think were possible. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done to help me work through my PTSD. You are an amazing person and Doctor. Thank you again for everything.”

Dr. Marques’ brilliant insights, disciplined and focused (yet flexible) methodology and totally caring and engaged approach achieved miracles. In addition, during that period she was incredible at helping us first hold together, and then deeply strengthen both our marriage and parenting! Our gratitude is impossible to fully express.”

Luana Marques, Ph.D. literally saved my life when it was falling apart and completely taken over and terrorized by severe OCD. She taught me to face my fears and now, several years later, I’m still using the same skills she taught me to manage and overcome my fears, instead of letting them manage me. Dr. Marques will forever, and ever, have a special place in my heart.”

I have been unable to fly short or long distances without a sedative as the experience of being in a flight aroused both panic and anxiety. This has been my condition for the last 18 years. I could have gone on like this for the rest of my life, but the dependency has made me feel like I had lost control of my life and my freedom. When I decided to do the CBT intensive exposure therapy with Dr. Marques I knew that it would not be easy. But the thought that maybe I could overcome my fear of flying and learn to handle anxiety and panic propelled me to undertake this exercise. I was diagnosed by Dr. Marques to have Claustrophobia. Dr. Marques taught me the skill of being “comfortably uncomfortable” and facing my fears and anxiety. I realized that there is no magic in handling panic but a rigorous practice of correcting one’s thinking and learning to identify the emotional and physical triggers that trigger the thoughts that feed panic and anxiety. Dr. Marques taught me how to prime my limbic brain so that it stops firing when the stimulus is a false alarm. This was a transformative experience. Today, I am flying short and long flights without any medication and though there may be some discomfort now and then I have learnt to cope and handle my thoughts and have a comfortable and often enjoyable flight. I still have some way to go to consolidate my wins, but I know for sure that there will be more wins as I keep working at it. CBT has been a liberating and transformative experience and I would recommend it to all who seek to be free of panic and phobias.”