.webp)
Biography
Dr. Marschall has been a licensed psychologist since 2016, having completed her pre-doctoral internship through the National Psychology Training Consortium (Central Region) and her post-doctoral residency at Family Psychological Center, PA, in Harrison, Arkansas.
She currently owns a private practice, RMH-Therapy, where she provides therapy primarily to children and adolescents and psychological evaluations. Her clinical specializations include trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming care, rural mental health, and Tele-mental health. She currently holds an active PSYPACT license, which allows her to see clients in 40+ states via Telehealth.
Dr. Marschall is a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD individual and is passionate about providing affirming care for her patients.
Education
Doctoral degree in clinical psychology: University of Hartford, 2015
Certifications
Area of Expertise
I incorporate evidence-based interventions as well as a client-centered approach to therapy that empowers YOU to be in charge of your treatment. My practice is trauma-informed, which means that I recognize the prevalence of trauma in the general population and take steps to create a comfortable environment that feels safe and empowering for all clients.I believe each client is the expert on themselves.
As a psychologist, I can offer insight into symptoms and mental health diagnoses, but no one knows you and your experience better than you.In addition, my psychology practice emphasizes social justice, cultural competence, and LGBTQ+ affirming care.
Modalities
Affiliations
Research and Publications
Vocal Stimming: What It Is and Why It Helps
Self-stimulatory behavior, or “stimming,” is a common trait among autistic people. Stimming is both a way to support sensory and emotional regulation and to express joy. This might look like using fidget toys, hand flapping, hair twirling, or staring at patterns.
Vocal stimming, is also included in this category. Some autistic people, like my daughter, who has autism and ADHD, for example, engage in this sensory-seeking behavior by producing certain sounds. These repetitive sounds, like humming (my daughter’s go-to vocal stim when she’s stressed), clicking, whistling, or even singing (another one of my daughter’s preferred stims), can be self-soothing and satisfying.
While vocal stimming is often associated with autism, these traits can present in neurotypical people as well. What’s important to remember when it comes to any type of self-stimulatory behavior is that it’s harmless and should never be a source of shame.
Whether you’re someone who identifies as neurodivergent or want to support the autistic people in your life, this article will help you better understand vocal stimming. In addition, we’ll explain what vocal stims can sound like, why people find vocal stims calming, and how these behaviors relate to autism, ADHD, and nervous system regulation.
Dorsal Vagal Shutdown: When Your Nervous System Goes Offline
When Aaron, 35, experiences dorsal vagal shutdown as an autistic person, his body feels massively heavy and isn’t as responsive as normal. Mentally, everything feels more taxing.
“I feel uncoordinated because even just moving around and existing takes significant effort,” he says. “If I try to power through those moments, it feels like pulling myself out of a vat of sludge, and then moving around still covered in it.”
Simply put, dorsal vagal shutdown is “a state of overwhelm of the nervous system,” explains Jephtha Tausig, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in autism. It commonly occurs in autistic and neurodivergent adults, like Aaron.
Although people have started to use the term “dorsal vagal shutdown,” and it appears in online discourse, there is no strong empirical evidence that we can measure or isolate a discrete dorsal vagal shutdown state in autistic adults, says Dr. Rachel Loftin, PhD, chief clinical officer at Prosper Health.
For the reasons above, we’ll focus on what the science clearly supports and what people reliably experience, and provide examples of support that can help.
Why Do I Get Overstimulated So Easily?
As an author, much of my life is spent at crowded bookstores, meeting readers and signing books. Sometimes I go to conventions, where sensory input is dialed up to eleven: cue buzzing lights, loud crowds, music, and bright colors.
Without fail, after any stressful author event, as an autistic person, I hit a point of overstimulation, where I reach a maximum capacity for sensory input. Often, I become overwhelmed and incapacitated, sometimes shutting down. It can take time to reduce overstimulation, but I’ve learned to anticipate my sensory needs, so I avoid it as much as possible.
Overstimulation is something that many people experience—especially those who are neurodivergent. In this article, we’ll cover why some people get more overstimulated than others, and how to take steps to support your unique brain the next time sensory input becomes overwhelming.
