Marla Gentile, LPC, LPCC

Marla Gentile is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with four decades of practice. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and grief. Her tone is encouraging and straightforward, and she emphasizes the client as the expert in their own life.

Clients meet someone who listens first and asks clear questions. Marla focuses on personal strengths and practical steps. She acknowledges the courage it takes to begin therapy and supports each person through early decisions.

In session she combines attention to relationships with approaches that include mindfulness and body-focused work. That blend helps people who struggle with attachment issues, shame, and the aftermath of abuse. She also offers EMDR techniques when appropriate for trauma processing.

She has particular experience helping people navigate life transitions such as caregiving, cancer, divorce, and aging and geriatric issues. Counseling also addresses relationship and intimacy concerns, career decisions, and feelings of isolation or low self-worth.

Marla draws on psychodynamic ideas to notice patterns from the past and client-centered methods to keep the work grounded in what matters now. Sessions aim to be clear, steady, and focused on steps clients can use between meetings.

People who value a compassionate, respectful guide often find this style helpful. Marla works in California and sees clients in English. If you want to begin, follow the site Start Therapy steps to match and schedule a first appointment.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Marla uses Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how early relationships shape current patterns. This approach helps when trust, closeness, or repeated conflicts cause pain. She also draws on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which is a structured method to help process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to match methods to their needs, goals, and preferences. Expectations and pacing are reviewed together so the plan fits the client's situation.

Session formats were not specified in the original biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow for flexible appointment times. It can also let people choose video or phone options when that helps them focus, or pick shorter check-ins when a full session is not needed. The emphasis is on finding a practical way to include therapy in everyday life while addressing the issues that brought someone to care.