Arlene Drake

Arlene Drake is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people work through eating and food-related issues along with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, and life changes. She brings 40 years of professional experience and an approach grounded in respect for each person's strengths. Arlene emphasizes that clients are the experts on their own stories and that therapy is a collaborative process.

She listens for the patterns that cause pain and for the skills a person already uses to cope. Sessions focus on practical steps people can try between meetings. Arlene aims to support clients as they experiment with new ways of relating to food, themselves, and others.

Her work addresses sensitive topics such as trauma and abuse, intimacy problems, and issues related to identity, including LGBT concerns. She also helps people facing abandonment, attachment, body image, codependency, and the fallout of infidelity or separation.

Arlene describes her role as a guide and supporter. She offers a steady, respectful presence while helping people find clearer choices and small, doable changes. The goal is better day-to-day functioning and a stronger sense of purpose.

She practices in California as an LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. If you want to see whether her style fits, the first step is a short matching questionnaire and a scheduled appointment to talk about goals.

Approaches and how online work can fit your life

Arlene uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on clear, practical steps people can try between sessions. One common approach helps identify unhelpful patterns around food and body image and replaces them with manageable routines and choices that support health and daily functioning.

Another approach looks at relationships and attachment. It examines how past connections influence current intimacy, boundaries, and trust, and helps people try new ways of relating that feel safer and more effective.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to decide which techniques match their goals, values, and pace. That decision is revisited as progress is made so the plan stays useful and realistic.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Many people find remote sessions helpful because they can fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to make online sessions feel practical and focused on everyday change.