Gina Gratza, MS, LMFT
I am a white cis-female, queer and able-bodied. I am a seeker, a traveler of the mind, a wonderer and a poet.
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with a focus on marriage and family therapy from the California State University, Northridge. I am an associate member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and maintain licensure through continuing education requirements.
I practice psychotherapy through a systemic and humanistic lens. I believe that we are impacted by the systems we live in and the relationships we are surrounded by. As we move through this world, we may find that the impacts from our systems and relationships become too great to hold alone. My practice is built to support individuals and groups of people to weave understanding and growth into their life experiences and connect it back to one another. I value creating a safe and trusting space for people to feel comfortable enough to step into vulnerability. It is through trust and vulnerability that growth can occur.
If you’re thinking of starting therapy and need support in understanding the process, please reach out and I would be happy to review the process and help determine how we can help reach your goals.
My theoretical approach is rooted in humanism. I value the uniqueness of each person that walks into my office and I see them as a whole being with a drive towards self-actualization. We all are deserving of realizing and expressing our truest, most authentic selves connected to our capabilities and creativity. I utilize a variety of theoretical modalities alongside humanistic therapy including Gestalt, mindfulness-based practices, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy®, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally-Focused Therapy®, and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR™). I’ve received a certificate of completion with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) MDMA Therapy Training Program. I have also completed 5 modules of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy with The Polaris Insight Center.
“My theoretical approach is rooted in humanism. ”
I started my career in downtown Los Angeles at The Salvation Army, working with homeless male war veterans with PTSD and addiction in a residential setting. From there I began working with individuals struggling with eating disorders and exercise addiction. After several years of working with Monte Nido & Affiliates and acting as their Lead Therapist, I gained invaluable experience and knowledge in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. I had the opportunity to work at various levels of care including residential treatment centers, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programming. My experience has grounded me in the Health at Every Size® movement, Intuitive Eating, joyful movement, and mind-body-soul connection. I began private practice several years ago and continue to work in collaborations with outside organizations engaging in legal psychedelic facilitation. See the psychedelics & collaborations tabs above for more information. I have a great passion for the work that I do and gratitude for every person that has trusted me in sharing their stories.
The most difficult thing is the decision to act.
The rest is merely tenacity.
The fears are paper tigers.
You can do anything you decide to do.
You can act to change and control your life and the procedure.
The process is its own reward.
-Amelia Earhart
