Arlene Drake

Arlene Drake is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 40 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship trouble, and life changes. She works with concerns related to women's issues, LGBT topics, trauma and abuse, intimacy struggles, and career questions. Arlene emphasizes a straightforward, respectful partnership where the client is seen as the expert in their own life.

She believes people already carry strengths they can use to move forward. In sessions she helps clients identify those strengths and try practical steps to reduce symptoms and improve daily life. The tone is supportive and goal-focused, with attention to what feels useful and doable for each person.

Arlene draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address problems like post-traumatic stress, codependency, body image, and commitment concerns. She also helps people work through family problems, grief around adoption or abandonment, and the fallout from infidelity or divorce. Her approach aims to make emotional change feel manageable rather than overwhelming.

Clients can expect clear talk about goals and progress, gentle challenge when needed, and help translating insights into practical behavior changes. Arlene encourages people to take small, steady steps and to recognize the progress they make along the way.

She works in California as a California LMFT, and sessions are conducted in English. To begin, prospective clients follow the site's Start Therapy process to match and schedule according to therapist availability.

How evidence-based approaches work online

Arlene uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help people process trauma and improve relationships. For trauma and abuse she focuses on approaches that help people make sense of painful memories, manage strong emotions, and reduce the everyday impact of post-traumatic stress. For relationship and intimacy issues she uses methods that clarify communication patterns, set clear goals, and help people practice new ways of relating.

Choosing a therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked in the past. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust the plan if something does not feel helpful.

Many people find online work fits into a busy life by reducing travel and making scheduling easier. If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to have regular check-ins, fit sessions around work or caregiving, and keep momentum between in-person visits when those are not possible.