Marla Gentile

Marla Gentile is a licensed professional counselor with 40 years of experience. She practices in California and draws on a long history of helping people navigate stress, anxiety, trauma and grief. Marla emphasizes respect for each person's experience and strengths as a starting point for change.

Her work centers on listening and helping people name what feels overwhelming. Sessions often involve slowing down, noticing patterns, and finding practical ways to cope with life changes. She encourages clients to build on strengths they already have and to take small steps toward relief.

Marla uses several therapeutic approaches to match what a person needs. She draws on mindfulness to help people become more aware of their reactions and to steady difficult emotions. Attachment-based and client-centered ideas guide how she builds a trusting working relationship and focuses on what matters most to the client.

Over four decades she has supported people facing relationship and intimacy issues, career concerns, caregiver stress, and struggles with shame or isolation. She also works with people dealing with illness, aging, abandonment, and family of origin issues. The goal is to help people find clearer choices and more manageable ways to cope.

Starting therapy with Marla begins with a respectful conversation about goals and preferences. She aims to make the first step simple and to help people feel seen as they work toward change.

How Marla’s Approaches Work Online

Mindfulness Therapy helps people notice their thoughts and bodily reactions in the moment. It can reduce overwhelm and make strong feelings easier to follow and respond to. Attachment-based therapy looks at patterns in relationships and how early bonds influence current connections; it can help people change repeated interaction styles and feel more secure. Client-centered therapy centers the person’s own goals and pace, with the therapist following the client’s lead and prioritizing what matters most to them.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and will collaborate on which methods to try. This is a shared process and can shift over time as progress is made.

Confirm the available session options before booking to know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people meet from different regions, which can be helpful for those who live or travel far from a therapist.