Hello, I’m Marina.
(scroll down to the bottom for a bullet point list of my experience and qualifications)
I obtained my BA in Liberal Studies and a minor in Special Education in San Francisco. Whilst studying to be a Special Education teacher, I worked as a Jr. Behavioural Therapist for children and young adults on the autism spectrum throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego County (California).
A move abroad made my qualifications null and void, leaving me to start from scratch. I regularly volunteered at the local Abbey in Bath and began to work in schools as a specialist SEND teaching assistant. During this time, I continually supported my mental and emotional well-being through my regular yoga practice. As it was a new beginning, I decided to do what I wanted to at 19 and trained as a yoga teacher in 2016.
In January 2016, I completed my 200hr Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training at Suryalila Retreat Centre in Spain. There was such a shift in me that I went back less than two weeks later for another week-long training in Envision Yoga. Since my initial training, I have completed my 3-day Kids & Family yoga teacher training with Rainbow Kids Yoga in Paris (2017), partook in additional Anatomy for Yoga instruction with Karen Kirkness of Meadowlark Yoga in Edinburgh (2018), virtually trained with Zabie Yamasaki on her Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga training (2018) and, finally, I completed my 50hr Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Demelza Feltham of Demelza Yoga in Glasgow (2019).
In addition to yoga, I am a certified Drawing & Talking practitioner and have completed a COSCA Counselling Skills Certificate (2021). In 2022, I remotely completed Training and Education in Sexual & Domestic Violence with Chapter 260 (Boston, MA) and continued professional development on Dissociation/Eating-Disorders/Self-injury/Vicarious trauma with Safe Space in Dunfermline, Scotland. Finally, I have completed 123 hours of client work as a trainee Person-Centered Counsellor & Psychotherapist.
Life happened, and I decided to leave my UK diploma program four months short of qualifying. I moved back to Los Angeles and am slowly transitioning back into American life and culture.
Currently, I am completing my Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy, at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
After nearly 11 years in the UK, Marina recently moved back to Los Angeles. During this time of transition she is focusing on private 1:1 and small group client work. She offers both remote and in-person yoga sessions in the Los Angeles area.
Contact Marina for more info.
-
Highlights
• 17 years of experience working in education in both the public and private sector.
• 6 years in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT).
• Experienced with high-functioning, low-functioning, verbal, and non-verbal children with autism, in addition to other students with additional needs.
Related Skills
• Person-centered counselor
• Drawing and Talking Practitioner
• Trauma-informed practitioner
• Yoga and mindfulness teacher
-
Los Angeles University, Los Angeles, CA 2023 – 2025
Master of Science, Counseling Psychology
Specialization: Marriage and Family Therapy
GPA – 4.0, awarded Merit Scholarship
Professional Counselling Training, Glasgow, Scotland, UK 2021 - 2023
PG Diploma, Person-Centered Counseling & Psychotherapy
Relevant projects:
• Facilitated an informative session on trauma and bodywork as an aspect of counseling.
• Researched the effects of transgenerational trauma on the Latinx and BIPOC communities.
Scottish University & Mental Health Association, Scotland, UK 2021
COSCA Counseling Skills Certificate
San Francisco University, San Francisco, CA 2011
Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies
Minor: Special Education
Relevant research:
• Presented a research proposal on the value and societal capabilities of individuals with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
• Researched and presented an informative PowerPoint presentation on the available programs, schools, and living environments for adults 21+ with ASC in the SF Bay Area.
-
Training & Education in Sexual & Domestic Violence (remote), MA 2022
Dissociation/Eating Disorders/Self-Injury/Vicarious Trauma, Scotland 2022
How to do counseling online: a coronavirus primer (remote), Scotland 2021
50hr Yin Yoga training, Glasgow, Scotland 2019
Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga Training (remote) 2018
Kids and Family Yoga Teacher Training, Paris, France 2017
Envision Yoga Teacher Training, Spain, 2016
200hr Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training, Spain 2016
-
Counselling Service, Edinburgh, UK 2022 – 2023
Trainee Person-Centered Counselor
• Weekly caseload of 5, fifty-minute client sessions within a donation-based counseling service in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Confidential note-taking, and regular individual and group supervision.
Primary School, Glasgow, UK, 2019 – 2021
Health & Well-being Support Worker
• Educated refugee and asylum children on therapeutic trauma techniques to learn how to regulate their nervous system through yoga.
• Lead a school-wide weekly yoga club in 10-week blocks.
• Created a remote yoga and mindfulness classroom to support the children and staff throughout lockdown.
Primary School, Bath, UK, 2017 – 2019
Reception LSA
• Supported the reception (kindergarten) teacher with the learning of the children. Assisted in teaching the children how to read, phonics, math, problem-solving, and social skills.
• Emphasized learning through play and social activities.
• Combined occupational and physical therapy techniques and incorporated sensory integration when needed.
• Facilitated drawing and talking sessions with various children throughout the school.
Self-Employed, Yoga Teacher, Bath & Stirling, UK, 2016 – 2022
Supply Teaching Assistant, Bath, UK 2014 – 2017
Jr. ABA Therapist, SF & SD, CA 2011 – 2012
Jr. Behavioral Therapist, SF, CA 2011
-
Counselling Service, Edinburgh, UK 2022 – 2023
Abbey, Bath, UK 2012 – 2018
-
Yoga Alliance International, Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)
Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA)
Yoga Alliance Professionals UK, RYT