Our Bios
Counseling Services
Together, we are both experienced therapists who offer practical solutions for difficulties with over eating, anxiety, and depression. Our experience is that a peaceful mind knows how to solve its problems. Skills are the foundation of confidence—We teach skills. We are available by phone and in person in our South Bay office (Palo Alto, CA). We are available for a 15 minute free consultation to help you decide whether this program is right for you. Please contact us by email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Elad Levinson, LCSW
Elad Levinson LCSW is one of the first mental health professionals to discover the power of mindfulness to care for addictions and other health related problems.
Beginning in 1972, he taught recovering alcoholics and their families mindfulness-based stress reduction, first at Sequoia Hospital’s inpatient alcoholism program and then to the public through his firm, “Keep It Simple Seminars”.
By 1990, Elad had taught professionals in the health care field and high tech businesses over 15,000 hours of MBSR.
Elad wrote several publications regarding the power of self awareness and the integration of western social psychology and Buddhist Psychology.
“There is a profound opportunity to transform significant problems that cause massive suffering like weight related illnesses through the trinity of Mindfulness-Based therapies, Concentration practices that teach the art of shifting attention and sustaining it on what is wholesome and finally the cultivation of Kindness practices such as altruism and the Buddhist practice of “Metta” or Loving-kindness towards self and others.
In addition, He has innovated the use of mindfulness and Buddhist Psychology in its application to organization development, leadership practices, stress reduction and related problems, relationships and parenting.
For over four decades, Elad has been a Psychotherapist in private practice in Palo Alto serving a wide range of issues and concerns ranging from individual coping with problems with life, work and relationships, parenting, couples therapy and family therapy.
He is particularly skilled in helping clients understand the root causes of their concerns; formulate multiple ways of solving or making the situation better or finding novel ways to view their life from an empowering perspective.
“I feel passionately that we all have much more talent and skill at living our lives with integrity if we access the trained heart and mind that we are born to use capably. With the cultivation of concentration, mindfulness and altruism; we become truly noble beings.”
Maryann Marks, M.F.T.
For the past six years, Maryann Marks have been counseling couples, individuals, students and children with a emphasis on mindfulness- based psychology. Her clients found out that mindfulness works so well; simply by slowing down we find the answers to our problems.
For the past 25 years, I have been searching for a peaceful way to live. I have been influenced by the living and past teachers, Byron Katie, Amma, Echkart Tolle and the Buddha. All four of these amazing masters have the same message…. Look within, Learn acceptance, meditate, and be in the present moment.
With much practice she has learned what works and has come to a place of peace. “I still fall off the mark from time to time, but I can easily come back without a lot of drama or extended time in turmoil.” What brings Maryann to this place to teach Pounds for Poverty™ is her own battle with my body image, binge eating and incessant dieting compulsion for years, starting at the age of 12. In her search for inner happiness, she knew that she had to make peace with her body. Part of the practice is accepting what is. My body is large, gains weight readily and holds onto it easily. “For me, accepting myself was the hardest journey I could ever undertake.”
Maryann is a Marriage Family Therapist. She has counseled individuals and groups using mindfulness as a focus for recovery. “After reading many self-help books, I can say without a doubt that this practice of mindfulness is the only thing that has been sustainable for me. I learned how to stop dieting and end my binge eating. I have participated in many Buddhist silent retreats and continue to practice meditation on a daily basis.” “Combining mindfulness practice with altruism is a brilliant solution to over consuming. As you will learn on this journey we take together, being present to this moment can end your suffering. I urge you to find out through your own experience of this practice what will work for you.”