Dr. Gia Marson

Certified Suicide Prevention Trainer

A highly respected expert in her field, Dr. Marson has private practices in Santa Monica and Calabasas, CA, is a clinical consultant to UCLA’s Adolescent Medicine Department, Nourished For Life [NFL], Eating Disorders Program and has a wealth of diverse experience — some recent highlights include:

Serving within the UCLA Athletic Department as clinical liaison and member of the Athletic Care Committee, establishing & directing the UCLA Counseling Center Eating Disorders Program, co-author of the UCLA CAPS and Student Health Eating Disorder Treatment Manual, coaching for the Lantern Anxiety Program, co-writing and hosting a University of California public service announcement, and contributing to The EveryGirls Guide to Life by Maria Menounos. Since 2016, Dr. Marson has served on the Board of Directors for the Breaking The Chains Foundations, a non-profit whose mission is to use all forms of art to promote health and healing.

Dr. Marson’s clinical orientation is Integrative, utilizing interventions from CBT, FBT, MBT, Psychodynamic, Humanistic and Relational Therapies. She has Advanced-Practitioner training in mentalization Based Therapy. With clients, each therapy plan and progression is based on a clients’ unique goals & strengths and empirically based treatments. Additional experience includes positions at Monte Nido Treatment Center (residential setting), The Renfrew Center (intensive outpatient setting), Chaminade College Preparatory High School (school therapist). Prior to becoming a psychologist, Dr. Marson worked as a field producer for CNN. While covering the news, she developed a keen interest in observing and listening to the experiences of others. Through these experiences, she began to study how people increase resilience.

Education

● Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Counseling Psychology, Ed.D. 1999
● Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Counseling Psychology, M.Ed. 1995
● Pepperdine University, Communications, B.A. 1984

Professional Experience

● Clinical Psychologist Consultant to the UCLA Nourished For Life Feeding & Eating Disorder Clinic—UCLA NFL Outpatient Feeding & Eating Disorder Clinic, Los Angeles, CA. is a feeding and eating disorder program within the Division of Adolescent Medicine for children, adolescents and young adults. The NFL multi-disciplinary team of medical doctors, psychologists and registered dietitians that employs Family Based Therapy (FBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other evidenced based interventions to promote healing and restore health.
2017-current

Provide leadership for creation of protocols and provision of psychology services. NFL is a multi-disciplinary clinic the for patients up to age 26 with feeding and eating disorders and for their families as clinically appropriate.

● Psychologist — Private Practice, Santa Monica and Calabasas, CA.
2002-current

Provide clinical services to adolescents and adults for a wide range of problems and goals. California psychology Lic No 18764. Emphasis on positive, value-driven behaviors, collaborative practice, developmental issues, transitions. Specialization in treating eating disorders. Trained in Family Based Therapy for eating disorders, CBT, Mentalization Based Therapy. Use an integrative
approach including empirically based interventions.

● Writer — recoverywarriors.com, online.
2016-2018

Contribute articles to inspire health and healing.

● Board of Directors — Breaking the Chains Foundation, Los Angeles; CA.
2016-current

Offer direction on networking, spending and interventions for a foundation aimed at reducing mental illness stigma and raising money for prevention and treatment.

● Program Director — UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services [CAPS]: Westwood CA.
2006-2014

Founder and Director of the UCLA CAPS Eating Disorders Program, established and led a multi-disciplinary consultation team, trained professional departments. Led all ED services at CAPS. Co-authored a treatment manual with a CAPS psychiatrist & a student health center physician/clinical care director. CAPS Prevention & Outreach: Brought UCLA campus into NIMH study for online prevention programming. Brought “Reflections,” an empirically validated body image program, to campus and led peer to peer trainings. Launched a Reflections student organization. Established the Eating Disorder Campus Wide Partnership program with the UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital in-patient unit. Developed and led student workshops. UCLA Athletic Department Clinical Liaison. Provided triage and clinical services for student athletes. Collaborated with UCLA medical doctors, athletic trainers, psychiatrists and other therapists to assure timely and appropriate services for student athletes. Collaborated with coaches as allowed based on confidentiality. Provided emergency evaluations, individual & group psychotherapy. Clinical supervisor for pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral fellows. Served on search, intern selection and training committees.

● Psychologist, Advisor — Harvard-Westlake Athletic Depart. Advisory Panel, Studio City, CA.
2015-2017

Serve on an internal, community-based multi-disciplinary advisory panel to guide coaches and administrators regarding the health and wellness of at risk student athletes.

● Online Coach — lantern.com , San Francisco, CA.
2013-2015

Advisor to developers and coach for web-based guided self help program for anxiety.

● Lecturer — UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Westwood, CA.
2010-2014

Co-taught 6 seminar courses yearly, Cosmo Says You’re Fat, I Ain’t Down with That, with co-lecturer Eve Lahijani, R.D.

● Guidance Counselor — Chaminade College Preparatory High School: West Hills, CA. 2002-2007

Grade level counseling and therapy services to students; consultation and collaboration with administrator s, teachers and parents. Wrote What Every Parent Should Know guidelines. Served on discipline council and drug testing committee, led retreats.

● Counselor — Monte Nido Treatment Center: Malibu, CA. 2002
Supervised milieu and meals, group psychotherapy and support within a residential treatment setting.

● Psychological Testing — Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles: Los Angeles, CA. 2002-2004
Assessed and wrote reports for seminary, deacon and priesthood candidates.

Training

The Renfrew Center: Allendale, NJ; 1999-2001. Postdoctoral Fellow: Interim Director for the Intensive Outpatient Program, provided leadership, budget overview, assessments, individual and group therapy for eating disorders and other treatment issues.

The Koch Center: Waldwick, NJ; 1999-2001. Post-doctoral Fellow: Clinical treatment for a range of problems and goals.

Douglas College Office of Psychological Services: New Brunswick, NJ; 1997-1999. Pre-doctoral Intern: Direct and prevention services within a multidisciplinary team, provided short-term psychotherapy for all students, conducted emergency evaluations, served on the Eating Disorders Task Force, provided student workshops.

Cook College Counseling Center: New Brunswick, NJ; 1996-1997. Pre-doctoral Extern: Clinical Services within a multidisciplinary team, provided short and long-term psychotherapy for all students, conducted emergency evaluations.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: New Brunswick, NJ; 1995-1996. Practicum: Psychotherapy to students and low income community members.

Media, Publications, Presentations

Los Angeles County Psychological Association Conference, 2016; Presenter, Binge Eating: Bridging Science and Practice.

Providence St. John’s Health Center, 2016; Presenter, Treating Eating Disorders on College Campuses.

UCLA Clinical Psychology Program, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, Presenter, Treating Eating Disorders.

recoverywarriors.com, 2016; Writer, Leave the Isolation of Anorexia Behind and Redefining Recovery as the Glory of Winning.

University of California, 2013; Co-writer, host, Video Public Service Announcement.

Daily Bruin, 2013, 2011, 2009; Expert contributor for articles, LA Popular culture hinders eating disorder recovery, Weighing in on an important issues, and the Psychological impact of college can influence eating disorders.

UCLA, 2012, 2011, 2010; Panelist, provided psycho-education to student groups and invited guests on various psychological issues.

The Every Girls Guide to Life, 2011; Writer, expert contributor with Maria Menounos.

NBC, 2006; Television interview as an expert contributor with Maria Menounos regarding the dangers of pro-eating disorders websites.

M. Carole Pistole, PhD and Gia Marson, Ed.D., January 2005; Commentary on the Family’s Vitality: Diverse Structures with TV Illustrations: The Family Journal, V13(1).

Professional Memberships

Academy for Eating Disorders (AED)
Los Angeles County Psychological Association (LACPA)
Health at Every Size (HAES)
Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA)

Workshops

Suicide Prevention (QPR), Psychological Issues for Sororities, Parent Orientation for Incoming Undergraduates’ Families, Adolescents and Sexuality, Bullying Prevention for Coaches, Acquaintance Rape Prevention, Assertiveness Training, Dealing with Difficult Parents, Understanding the Party Culture, College Bound for Parents, Fat Talk Free, Reflections, CBT for Weight Management, Athletes and Eating Disorders, Stop Body Bashing, Media Myths, Make Peace with Food, Diversity Training.

Additional Professional Experience

Chaminade College Preparatory High School: Peer Facilitating; 2002-2003.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: Teaching Assistant; Family Psychology 1 & II; 1994-1996.

Notre Dame High School: Teacher of Journalism and Psychology; 1987-1989.

CNN: Los Angeles, CA, Assignment desk editor, field producer, liaison for Larry King show; 1984-1987.

The Practice

Dr. Marson’s psychotherapy services are centered on helping you reach your goals. Therapy goals are unique and might be about reducing anxiety, reaching excellence in a sport, academic or career setting, developing closer relationships, dealing with a loss, increasing self-reflection, recovering from an illness, knowing your strengths. Hope and motivation are two of the most important components of psychotherapy. Some people come to psychotherapy for support, for help with relationships or to successfully navigate life transitions. Others come to recover from a serious mental illness. The scope of what Dr. Marson treats includes (but is not limited to) eating disorders, anxiety, depression, improving self-esteem, developmental issues, transitions, and managing grief. Dr. Marson works with adolescents and their families, adults and athletes. Dr. Marson is connected with of a wide network of psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatrists, primary care doctors and registered dietitians in the Los Angeles community. She welcomes the opportunity to connect callers with referrals to other health professionals.

Mind-Body Connections

Dr. Marson’s approach centers on working with clients to develop skills to tune in, honor and respond to the needs of the body and mind.

Anxiety

Occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.

Life Transitions

You’re happy with the status quo, so change is the last thing you want in your life. However, life doesn’t always comply with our wishes, and now you’re faced with a major transition. One of the toughest transitions you might ever have to make involves moving your place of residence. The longer you’ve lived somewhere, the harder that move can be. You also find that there are times when you have to go with the flow with family, friends, and employers. Your adult child wants to get married, your best friend’s mother died, or your boss gives you a completely new set of responsibilities. Dealing with these changes can be tough, but the 10 tips below, based on research involving life-span studies of stressful events, can get you through even the toughest of them.

Let’s begin with some background. The basic premise of most stress and coping literature is that there’s no such thing as an inherently difficult life transition. Life events are as stressful, or not, as you make them. It’s all in the mind-set you apply. A second premise, derived primarily from the life course literature, assumes that the factors that sway the events in life reflect the many forces out there that can lead to change. There are no inherent life changes other than the basic alterations that occur due to biology and the programming of our genes. The life changes involved in transitions occur because of social, historical, and other outside influences. Some of these are predictable, such as graduating from high school at about age 18, and some are completely random, such as having a tree fall on your roof during a storm.

It’s good to know about these perspectives on life transitions, because they show us that there’s nothing inherently bad about change. When changes occur, they reflect a variety of factors, and how you interpret them will determine their impact on you. You’ve no doubt seen on the news, or perhaps in your own neighborhood, people who’ve gone through a traumatic change, such as a tornado, hurricane, flood, or fire, and must cope with the damage it’s done to their lives. Somehow, although they’ve suffered incredible loss, they emerge ready to clean up and move on with their lives.

Parenting

How Parenting Affects Development

From talking and reading to infants to enunciating values (best done in conversations around the dinner table), parents exert enormous influence over their children’s development. They are, however, not the only influences, especially after children enter school. It’s especially important that parents give children a good start, but it’s also important for parents to recognize that kids come into the world with their own temperaments, and it’s the parents’ job to provide an interface with the world that eventually prepares a child for complete independence. In a rapidly changing world, parenting seems subject to fads and changing styles, and parenting in some ways has become a competitive sport. But the needs of child development as delineated by science remain relatively stable. There is such a thing as over parenting, and aiming for perfection in parenting might be a fool’s mission. Too much parenting cripples children as they move into adulthood and renders them unable to cope with the merest setbacks. Of course, there is also such a thing as too-little parenting, too, and research establishes that lack of parental engagement often leads to poor behavioral outcomes in children, in part because it encourages the young to be too reliant on peer culture. Ironically, harsh or authoritarian styles of parenting can have the same effect.

Successful Parenting

To parent effectively, it’s not enough to simply avoid the obvious dangers like abuse, neglect, or overindulgence. Indeed, The National Academy of Sciences delineates four major responsibilities for parents: maintaining children’s health and safety, promoting their emotional well-being, instilling social skills, and preparing children intellectually. Numerous studies suggest that the best-adjusted children are reared by parents who find a way to combine warmth and sensitivity with clear behavioral expectations. Parents may find the Four C’s to be a helpful acronym: care (showing acceptance and affection), consistency (maintaining a stable environment), choices (allowing the child to develop autonomy), and consequences (applying repercussions of choices, whether positive or negative).

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don’t get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both.

Although depression may occur only once during your life, people typically have multiple episodes.

For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why.

Eating Disorders Treatment

Dr. Marson specializes in treating adolescents and adults with eating disorders and she knows that full recovery is possible. She established and directed the UCLA Counseling Center Eating Disorders Program which she led for 8 years. She also worked in the Monte Nido Residential Treatment Center, the Renfrew Center’s Intensive Outpatient Program and was trained in Family Based Therapy [FBT] at Stanford University. FBT is typically the recommended treatment for adolescents. Dr. Marson incorporates empirically based treatments into the healing process. While eating disorders are about food and body image, they are also usually related to problems of thinking, feeling, living, identity, and connecting with others. Through recovery, clients strengthen their courage, and choose to live fully and wholly. Dr. Marson empowers clients’ existing healthy mindset in order to override the eating disorder. She works collaboratively with clients & within a team that is often made up of medical doctors, registered dietitians and families.

Policies are detailed in new patient forms. Dr. Marson does not take insurance though she provides receipts for clients who want to submit for reimbursement.

Fees are based on community standards.

Intake Forms

New-Client-Information-Questionnaire

Disclosure-Mental-Health-Information

HIPAA-Notice-of-Privacy-Practices

Client Portal

Open Client Portal

Websites

American Psychological Association

Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies

Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders

Academy for Eating Disorders

Mentalization Based Therapy

Eating Disorder Myths and How to Help a Loved One

Videos

Guided Mindful Meditations

Three Components of Self-Compassion

Rebranding Shame

Quiet, The Power of Introverts

Understanding Eating Disorders From the Inside

The Power of Believing You Can Improve

Looks Aren’t Everything Believe Me

What Makes You Happy?

Poem

The Man in the Arena

Maybe you’ve witnessed it. Or read about it. Or worst of all, lived it.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate…

Maria Menounos asks…

Eating disorder awareness PSA…