Marina Ruppert, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California

Therapy for Anxiety, Life Transitions, Relationships, & Personal Growth

About

Hi, I'm glad you're here. I'm Marina Ruppert, LCSW. I provide online therapy to individuals and couples throughout California. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially when you've spent a long time trying to manage things on your own. I strive to create a warm, genuine, and supportive space where you can feel comfortable showing up as you are, explore what you're experiencing, and work toward meaningful change.I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and have experience working with people across the lifespan and with a wide range of concerns. My experience includes community mental health and private practice, supporting clients through anxiety, emotional and behavioral challenges, life transitions, relationship difficulties, self-esteem concerns, pregnancy and postpartum experiences, burnout, and difficult or traumatic experiences.I believe therapy should be a collaborative process that is tailored to you and your goals. My role is to listen thoughtfully, help you make sense of what you're experiencing, and support you in finding a path forward that feels meaningful and sustainable.Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, navigating a major transition, struggling in your relationships, or wanting to better understand yourself, I'm here to help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected.

Services

Anxiety & Emotional Regulation
For clients who feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck in overthinking, or have difficulty managing intense emotions.Life Transitions, Pregnancy & Postpartum
For periods of change, uncertainty, shifting identity, pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, and the challenges that can come with new or changing roles.Self-Esteem & Self-Discovery
For clients struggling with self-criticism, perfectionism, confidence, people-pleasing, or feeling disconnected from themselves.Relationships
For relationship difficulties, communication, boundaries, co-dependency, conflict, vulnerability, and developing healthier patterns of connection.
This can include both individual therapy focused on relationships and couples therapy.Trauma & Difficult Experiences
For clients processing difficult or painful experiences and working toward greater understanding, safety, and emotional well-being.

Approach

I believe therapy should feel like a place where you can be honest, understood, and supported as you heal, grow, and move toward the life and relationships you want. My approach is warm, genuine, and collaborative. I want you to feel comfortable bringing your full self into therapy while also knowing that I will thoughtfully challenge you when it may help you move closer to the goals and values that matter to you.I am an intentional listener and use thoughtful questions to help you slow down, notice patterns, and arrive at your own insights. Rather than simply telling you what to do, I believe in helping you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and the choices available to you. I also believe therapy should be practical and applicable to your everyday life. I provide education and concrete skills that you can use between sessions to support the changes you're working toward.
I draw from a variety of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, motivational interviewing, interpersonal therapy, strengths-based, solution-focused, and person-centered approaches. I also take a holistic view of the people I work with, considering the many parts of your life and experiences that shape how you feel, think, and function.Most importantly, I don't believe therapy should follow a one-size-fits-all formula. We will work together to understand what you're experiencing, identify what you want to change, and tailor our work to your needs, strengths, and goals. My hope is that you leave therapy feeling understood and supported, while also developing greater self-awareness, confidence, and practical tools to navigate life with intention.

Contact

Interested in working together? I'd be happy to answer your questions and connect with you about getting started. I currently offer online therapy throughout California.