Marina Del Rey, CA Local Support & Community Resources

Melissa Cherry, a seasoned Marriage & Family Therapist (MA, LMFT), is dedicated to guiding individuals through their struggles with fear and sadness, often linked to depression, anxiety, and life transitions. With expertise in working with teens and adults, Melissa recognizes that many are facing mid-life crises or existential doubts, unsure of how to foster meaningful changes in their lives. She understands that past relationships and traumas can hinder personal goals and limit potential. Together with her clients, Melissa embarks on a collaborative journey to uncover unhelpful patterns in thoughts and behaviors. Utilizing an integrative approach tailored to each client's unique strengths, Melissa aims to facilitate healing and personal evolution. Through deep exploration of both past and present, she helps clients identify unconscious patterns that impede their pursuit of a fulfilling life. Melissa operates from a foundation of warmth, compassion, and non-judgment, creating a safe space for growth and healing. A strong therapeutic alliance is essential for effective change, and she welcomes the opportunity for potential clients to explore how her approach can support their journey.

Spencer Presler is a dedicated Clinical Social Worker and Therapist, LCSW, who specializes in working with preteens, teens, and adults. With a passion for facilitating personal growth, he expertly guides his clients through significant life transitions and the complexities of grief. His therapeutic approach blends various modalities, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Positive Psychology, ensuring that each individual receives tailored support. Spencer is particularly skilled in addressing men's issues, enhancing coping skills, and helping clients navigate peer relationships and chronic illness. He believes in the power of strength-based therapy and often incorporates outdoor sessions to promote healing in a natural setting. Whether through individual, family, or group therapy, he creates a warm, supportive environment where individuals can explore their emotions and build resilience as they work towards a fulfilling life.

Stephanie Gilbert is a dedicated marriage and family therapist, holding an LMFT credential and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, where she specialized in Spiritual and Depth Psychology. Her studies took her abroad, exploring Tibetan Buddhism in France and researching the connection between spirituality and medicine in São Paulo, Brazil. Stephanie integrates her diverse experiences with mindfulness, meditation, and Jungian psychology into her therapeutic practice, blending these with effective interventions from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). She has successfully addressed a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, and addiction, and she specializes in eating and body image concerns as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). With the belief that each individual is unique, Stephanie emphasizes building a strong therapeutic connection through empathy, understanding, and compassion, which she sees as essential for initiating healing. Recognizing that starting therapy can feel daunting, she is committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where clients can freely process their thoughts and feelings.