Marina brings over a decade of experience as a social worker, with degrees in Social Work from Arizona State University and Social Development from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Her work has focused on trauma, resilience, and healing, grounded in both academic training and real-world experience.
She began her career supporting survivors at a domestic violence shelter, where she served as a case worker providing direct care. This frontline work deepened her understanding of trauma and resilience, shaping client-centered approaches that she carries today.
Marina later led the development and management of a large, community-based program for survivors of interpersonal violence and human trafficking, taking it from vision to reality within a nonprofit organization in Phoenix, Arizona.
Her passion for healing and advocacy also led her into academia, where teaches university students across the country about intimate partner violence, healthy relationships, and how to train their internship agencies to better support survivors.
What sets Marina apart is her integrative, mind-body approach. Before entering the nonprofit and academic sectors, she spent two decades as a massage therapist and yoga instructor.
Marina first learned to meditate under the guidance of an instructor and has maintained a dedicated personal practice for nearly 30 years, meditating once to twice daily with consistency and depth. Her Beginner’s Meditation Course is directly inspired by this long-standing practice, offering accessible tools rooted in what supported her most at the start of her journey. Her foundations in bodywork, yoga, and meditation gives her a deep appreciation for the ways our bodies carry and release trauma.
Today, as a certified holistic and wellness life coach, Marina draws from her rich background to support individuals on their healing journeys—blending practical tools, trauma-informed care, and holistic practices to help clients reconnect with themselves, find resilience, and thrive.
