Dr. Kathy Irene Marshack

Read an article she wrote. Could not be more wrong. Did she get her degree from Wikipedia?

Dr. Marshack had a deep understanding of the symptoms of HFA and their effects on a family and its homelife. She also has small steps for each family member to try to work on to improve habits, communication and connections.

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I have been working with Kathy for about 3 months. I am fortunate to find such an understanding professional who understands me. I would highly recommend her to others who are on the spectrum.

This woman may many degrees but she’s very unprofessional, showing bias and inputting her own experiences and personal opinions in the process rather remaining neutral and facilitating progress. She doesn’t listen to her clients but instead talks over them and gives directives on how they process their trauma rather than giving tools to help them through it. She gaslights her clients and, at times outright mocked when she did not get the response she desired. She needs to retire. She has no business counseling anyone with trauma or doing any sort of family therapy in any form. I’m still considering reporting her to the board for her methods and actions. Deplorable. This woman may many degrees but she’s very unprofessional, showing bias and inputting her own experiences and personal opinions in the process rather remaining neutral and facilitating progress. She doesn’t listen to her clients but … More

Invested a lot of time with her. She turned out to be two faced, narcissistic, lacks empathy and care for the individual person. She has her narrative and if you question it or don't agree with her she shames you. She will claim to be an aspergers expert but doesn't know how to effectively handle both realities in a couples session without negating one person. Don't express feelings, it's not safe. She is traumatized and cannot be professional if you trigger her. It's really disheartening.

I would not be surprised if this woman single handedly managed to increase the suicide rate of autistic people. She literally runs a hate group. Investigation is wrapping up and the media stories will start soon.

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

she doesnt respect people with aspergers. very rude talks over you the whole time

The misinformation she spreads about autism is so harmful and she is creating a false narrative about something she clearly knows nothing about.

I felt for the first time as if someone understood something of what I am going through. Made me breathe again.

Dr. Marshack is one of the few people on earth who addresses the “invisible” effects of AS (level 1/aspergers) on the NT spouse, the AS spouse and the family system. Her mission is to help both spouses not only improve but thrive in intimate relationships with the challenges of AS. Her approach is stubbornly forthright. I feel her heart is in supporting NT spouses/children, but she also coaches people with AS. Positive change must begin with the NT spouse because the AS spouse doesn’t see what to do. AS spouses should applaud her efforts in supporting their NT spouses. Many of these relationships naturally fail whether the couple stays together or not. She offers clarity, and while it can feel like Pandora’s box for both spouses, I find her honesty and insight to be spot on. There’s no room for defensiveness, blame, denial here because she understands this dynamic so well on an intimate and academic level.

She’s providing false narrative that autistic people are abusive and manipulative and cause our partners to need therapy. She perpetuates myths that we lack empathy (not true at all). She’s causing real harm to the autistic community.

Dr. Kathy is a professional and truly demonstrates passion at what she does. By the time most have arrived at her door, a lot of trauma has occurred. I was married and shortly after could not figure out what changed in the man I married. Slowly I started to see my husband had a second life... His behaviors so “off”. He always told me he was so happy and we were a perfect couple. It took Dr. Kathy not even 2 hours to completely diagnose my husband. She couldn’t have done a better job helping me understand what was now on my plate and where I would be in 5 years if there was no change. She nailed it. It was tough to swallow. If someone tells you how to make your life easier, would you listen? This woman has dedicated her life to help others. She personally can relate in many areas. Ask her about her Meetup group and many conference calls she offers! Meet friends who can relate. I feel She rates low because the truth is hard to swallow and she can’t force change. She provides options.

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

she has no real knowledge of those on the spectrum and she lets her personal experiences define her entire view of those who are on the autism spectrum, if you are on the spectrum or know someone who is on the spectrum, avoid her like the plague

From one psychologist to another, UK to USA. I have heard not heard or learnt about a more narcissistic, sociopathic human being as you. I am appalled about how you go about your work with little to no thought about the real world. I think you should have a long hard think about the accusations you make. However this is always time to reflect and change so I wish you luck with your future endeavours. From one psychologist to another, UK to USA. I have heard not heard or learnt about a more narcissistic, sociopathic human being as you. I am appalled about how you go about your work with little to no thought about the real world. I think … More

She perpetuates damaging and untrue ideas about autism. She likens autistic people to narcissists, which is false; and she says autistic people lack empathy, which is also false. She has no understanding of what neurodiversity is and has no business calling herself an expert in this field.

Demonstrates an appalling lack of understanding of those on the autism spectrum, despite her purported expertise. Her comparison of those with Aspergers to narcissists suggests she has some personal work to do, as this smacks of a personal wound she is projecting upon others. These types of opinions put out into the public by so-called professionals are dangerous. As it is, those on the spectrum are more likely to be harmed by law enforcement due to a lack of understanding. I sincerely hope that people can look beyond her degrees and see that her perspective is flawed by some sort of personal issue. Not terribly professional and if a mental health practitioner cannot recognize and address these types of issues within themselves, they should not be treating others. Demonstrates an appalling lack of understanding of those on the autism spectrum, despite her purported expertise. … More

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

This user rated the provider, but did not write a review

She really helped our family. Thank you, Kathy.

Kathy has done amazing work with victims of Narcissistic Abuse, Domestic Violence, Post Separation Abuse, and Legal Abuse. Thank you for all that you have done.

I am on the spectrum, and have worked with Dr Marshack for a long time now, both in person and via video sessions. She is very helpful, very knowledgeable, and ultimately very therapeutic. Working with her is a process, she is not there to hold your hand and make everything better. She will however hold your hand and guide you through the process of getting the help you and/or your loved ones need. There are a lot of unpleasant truths one must confront on the road to progress, and Dr Marshack will help you tackle them as you are ready. I question the validity of these negative reviews as they seem to be coming from people who do not work with her and do not understand how she works, or the compassion she shows during her process. I am on the spectrum, and have worked with Dr Marshack for a long time now, both in person and via video sessions. She is very helpful, very knowledgeable, and ultimately very therapeutic. Working with her is a process, she is not there … More

I have worked with Kathy before and she is amazing and has wonderful insights. As a therapist she is attentive, down to earth, and straight forward in a kind and understanding way. Her office is beautiful and welcoming and her staff is prompt and friendly. I recently read her book "When Empathy Fails: How to Stop Those Hell-bent on Destroying You". When I read the negative reviews I believe this is what most people are upset about. When I personally read the book I did not feel she was comparing narcissists to people with autism or vise versa. Rather she was explaining empathy and for some it comes naturally at different levels, and for some they have to work at understanding and reading social cues (like some people with severe autism), and some people just don't care about empathy (like some people with personality disorders). I can see how this might be offensive to some, but empowering to others in an ah ha moment. I'm sure in the future there may be more studies done with the empathy spectrum. I have worked with Kathy before and she is amazing and has wonderful insights. As a therapist she is attentive, down to earth, and straight forward in a kind and understanding way. Her office is beautiful and welcoming and her staff is … More

Excellent

Dr. Marshack specializes in alienating people on the spectrum from the rest of their family. Her books sound written as a personal vendetta, where she portrays all people with Aspergers as psychopaths, narcissists and aggressors. Maybe she skipped on all those researches claiming that people with Aspergers, especially women, are highly at risk of being abused, raped and themselves falling prey to narcissists?

Her ideas about autism are not merely wrong, they are both absurd and damaging. I have trouble even putting into words how disgusting her ideas are to me. She thinks as Autistics we are somehow lesser, not deserving of equal treatment. She thinks we are bad people. She's a fool. Please for the health and safety of your family do not see this doctor or use her techniques.

Not Recommended

Dr Marshack knows a lot about autism and Aspergers from a scientific point of view. However, like most doctors, she thinks the same about everyone who has these conditions when there are unique differences in each individual and circumstance. Her services did not work for us, they actually made life worse off, and we felt brainwashed by her after seeking a new perspective on autism.

Dr. Marshack is friendly and personable, but she's sorely lacking in personal insight. She may be an expert on autism, but she doesn't seem to be able to help patients on any kind of an emotional level, especially when it involves couples trying to connect. She should stick to writing books.

Kathy. Marshack is dangerous and teaches unhealthy attitudes about Aspergers/Autism, including black and white thinking and misdiagnosing.

She is insightful, very professional and is an expert in entrepreneurial couples. Highly recommend

My family left before she moved to Portland. We stopped seeing her when she was breaching confidentiality between us and started practicing pseudoscience on us.