About The Marina Counseling Center
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History
Since 1982, The Marina Counseling Center (MCC) has been a trusted resource, offering low-cost, sliding scale therapy to thousands in the Bay Area community. For over 40 years, MCC has also nurtured hundreds of emerging therapists through its integrative and holistic training program, fostering growth and excellence in mental health care.
Mission
Marina Counseling Center is dedicated to providing compassionate, inclusive, and affordable psychotherapy, fostering healing and growth across the diverse communities of the Bay Area. We are equally committed to shaping the future of mental health care by rigorously training emerging professionals to deliver equitable, client-centered, and culturally responsive support.
To cultivate a healing community where all individuals can access compassionate, inclusive mental health care and embrace their authentic selves, guided by therapists committed to equity and client-centered care.
Vision
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Our values
Foster
compassionate presence
We meet people where they are, nurturing healing through genuine connection, empathy, and respect.
Champion
equity & inclusion
We challenge systemic
racism, dismantling white supremacy in therapy, and examining how privilege can create blind spots as clinicians.
Encourage
authentic embodiment
We support clients in connecting with their authentic selves and body's wisdom as essential elements in growth and healing.
Cultivate
community growth
We promote reflection and collaboration to enhance both individual and collective well-being.
Our staff
Stephanie Del Chiaro, LMFT
Executive Director
I am a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who was born and raised in San Francisco's Mission District. I provide therapy through a lens that embraces your culture and lived experience. Therapy can help people find meaning, give language to experiences, develop deeper self-understanding and create more peace in their lives and relationships.
In addition to being a licensed therapist, I am also a facilitator, consultant and clinical supervisor. I approach my professional roles with a lens that centers the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ experience. Acknowledging how structures and systems in society impact our daily lives is a very important aspect of the work I do.
Laurie Dievendorf, AMFT
Director of Programming
I received my M.A. in Counseling/Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. My approach is humanistic and holistic. I consider the many intersections of our emotional health, including all forms of relationships, identity, sexuality, spirituality, and more. I offer tools and support to help you move through the difficult waves of life.
With over 10 years of experience in health and wellness, I have taught self empowerment workshops at Universities throughout the Bay Area. I love teaching, group work and training folks to help others.
Above all, I create a safe space for people to openly and authentically express themselves.
In my free time, I love to explore nature and embark on unexpected adventures.
Joshua Greene, LMFT
Director of Training
Hi there, it's wonderful to be introduced! I'm an alumni of The Marina Counseling Center and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#126296). The primary focus of my therapeutic work is on relationships. This includes the relationship patterns that have shaped our lives, the relationships we are currently in, and the ways that we relate to other people in the world around us. I believe that relationships work best from a place of safety. So, I also focus on somatic work to help people feel connected and safe in the present moment.
My own journey with the study and practice of psychotherapy has been deeply meaningful to me. I've become passionate about helping the next generation of psychotherapists by passing on what I've learned and giving back to The MCC community. I am a clinical group supervisor and individual supervisor. I lead clinical trainings and training groups, and plan our overall training program here. In addition to my role at The MCC I'm also a psychotherapist in private practice. When I'm not working you can usually find me practicing yoga at a local studio or hiking and exploring nature here in the bay area.
Cody Freas
Payroll Coordinator & Bookkeeper
I was born in Los Angeles, and moved to San Francisco in my late 20's but now reside in San Antonio, Texas. I have been with the Marina since June of 2018, and have been in the accounting/payroll/bookkeeping field for over 20+ years, and while I'm not a clinician, I am happy to be able to provide my skills and services to the clinicians of the Marina Counseling Center, who are able to support the great community of San Francisco.
When I'm not working, I enjoy drinking tasty coffee, listening to Judas Priest, and cuddling with my two cats, Moe and Maggie while I watch The Simpsons.