Meet Marina Resa of Marina Resa LMFT

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marina Resa.

Hi Marina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My interest in becoming a pet grief therapist was sparked after the back-to-back deaths of my own two fur babies. Surprised at the intensity of my grief, I sought help. But… I had difficulty finding a therapist who truly specialized in pet loss. It was such an isolating experience. During neighborhood walks with my dog, complete strangers often approached me to pet her, and in the safety often only felt with strangers, they would confess that the death of their own pet was the most difficult experience they have ever been through. So many people were afraid to ever get another pet because they had never experienced such an intense depression. I realized that my experience wasn’t so unique. I had been working as an actress, so I was already very interested in studying the human condition. Becoming a psychotherapist (LMFT) just felt like a natural fit. With that realization that there was a hole in the field, I returned to school to obtain my maters degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. I took all the necessary steps to get licensed and have been serving grieving pet parents ever since.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been relatively smooth, but I did have some professors & supervisors along the way comment about how pet loss should be processed within a day or two. It’s still disenfranchised, even though more people understand and validate this type of loss than when I first started. In any case, it is just motivation to do what I do, because clients can feel it. They KNOW when their therapist doesn’t get it, and that’s why I’m here.

As you know, we’re big fans of Marina Resa LMFT. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m known for providing pet grief therapy. I also co-created the Pet Loss Grief Specialist Course for the APLB (Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement). Additionally, I specialize in adult children of parents with borderline or narcissistic traits. Often, clients initially come to me to work through grief, but stay on to process other things such as relationship issues, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, etc.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Going into private practice is most certainly a risk. There are ebbs and flows financially. It’s easier to be employed by an organization and know exactly what to expect every month as far as income goes, but I love being my own boss. So in that regard, I suppose I am a risk taker.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marinaresatherapy.com
• Instagram: @marinaresatherapy
• Facebook: petgriefrelief