Marilla Garcia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and co-founder of Connections Counseling and Coaching. A Southern Utah native, Marilla brings over two decades of mental health experience to her work—spanning substance abuse recovery, trauma healing, crisis intervention, and relationship counseling.

Marilla began her journey in the mental health field right out of high school, providing respite care for youth while completing her undergraduate studies. She went on to earn her Master of Social Work degree from Brigham Young University in 2010, where she specialized in treating youth and adults struggling with addiction.

Her early career included work in residential treatment centers and private practice, as well as time in probation and parole, where she became a certified officer and served as a primary counselor for four years. After years of front-line work, Marilla felt called to integrate more holistic methods of healing into her practice.

She became a certified yoga instructor and now blends body-centered practices with evidence-based therapy to help clients manage trauma, regulate emotions, and reconnect with themselves and their relationships. Her most recent work includes crisis response in the ER at Intermountain Hospital and serving patients with chronic pain and substance use disorders at Desert Pain Specialists.

Beyond her professional experience, Marilla draws strength and insight from her personal journey as a mother in a blended family. She and her husband are raising five children together and have successfully guided two of them into adulthood. This lived experience deepens her empathy and informs her work with families navigating complex dynamics, transitions, and emotional challenges.