In an era defined by high performance, constant connectivity, and unrelenting expectations, mental health has become one of the defining challenges of modern professional life. For many, the pressure to achieve and maintain success comes at the cost of balance, self-care, and emotional well-being. Leading the way toward a more integrated and compassionate model of care is Marina Health, an international psychology practice founded by Nusha Nouhi, PhD.
Through her practice, Nouhi has developed an approach to mental health that integrates therapy, education, and consulting with a focus on resilience and sustainable well-being. Marina Health serves clients internationally, offering therapy to residents of California and the Netherlands. The practice helps individuals and organizations strengthen emotional balance, navigate transitions, and build healthier relationships with themselves and others.
A Purpose Shaped by Empathy and Experience
Nouhi’s commitment to mental health began in her teen years during a memorable summer volunteering at City of Hope Medical Center, where she was assigned to the pediatric oncology department. There, she witnessed the powerful connection between emotional states and physical healing. This experience became the foundation for her life’s work, helping people address not just their symptoms but the emotional factors that shape health and success.
Over the years, her focus has evolved within the field of health psychology, supporting individuals who appear composed and accomplished in their daily lives while quietly managing burnout, chronic illness, or emotional fatigue. Many are the anchors of their families or organizations, constantly showing up for others while neglecting themselves. Through her work at Marina Health, Nouhi helps these individuals rediscover balance, self-compassion, and a sustainable rhythm that supports both personal and professional growth.
A Thoughtful and Collaborative Approach to Therapy
Central to Nouhi’s work is her collaborative and validating approach. Each therapeutic relationship begins with a detailed exploration of the client’s background, personality, and life circumstances. This partnership allows for the creation of a personalized plan that aligns with the client’s values and goals.
Her process prioritizes safety and trust, helping individuals gain the clarity and confidence to address challenges openly. Growth comes not from judgment but from curiosity, understanding, and collaboration. This emphasis on shared responsibility makes therapy both empowering and practical, allowing clients to integrate psychological tools that improve daily functioning and overall well-being.
Bridging Emotional and Physical Health
A defining part of Nouhi’s work is her focus on supporting individuals who are living with complex medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and metabolic disorders. She recognizes that these experiences bring emotional challenges that often remain unseen. People living with chronic illness frequently experience guilt, frustration, and self-blame, believing they have failed in managing their condition.
At Marina Health, these experiences are addressed through a balanced and compassionate framework that combines psychological insight with medical understanding. By viewing health data, such as blood glucose readings, as information rather than judgment, clients learn to transform self-criticism into self-compassion and proactive care. In oncology and metabolic health, Nouhi’s work helps clients manage uncertainty, rebuild a sense of control, and adapt to significant life changes. She guides individuals through emotional preparation before surgery and adjustment afterward, especially when facing shifts in body image, lifestyle, and identity.
This integrated perspective reinforces the belief that healing is not only physical but also deeply emotional and relational.
Redefining Presurgical Evaluations
Among Marina Health’s specialized services, presurgical evaluations for bariatric and metabolic procedures stand out for their supportive and person-centered nature. Instead of treating assessments as administrative requirements, they are approached as meaningful conversations designed to help patients prepare for long-term success.
Each evaluation explores habits, support systems, stressors, and expectations, helping individuals feel confident and emotionally ready for the changes ahead. The goal is not to determine worthiness for surgery but to ensure readiness and empowerment, positioning psychological preparation as a vital part of medical care.
The Importance of Cultural Responsiveness
Cultural awareness is a key aspect of care that is fully integrated into Marina Health’s philosophy. Having lived across multiple countries and cultures, Nouhi understands firsthand how identity, language, and social context shape the way people perceive mental health and seek support. In her work, cultural responsiveness means meeting clients where they are, respecting their values, and tailoring therapeutic strategies to align with their worldview.
This sensitivity allows for care that is authentic, inclusive, and effective, qualities essential for meaningful progress in therapy. Marina Health’s approach reflects this global mindset, offering care that is accessible, culturally attuned, and adaptable to the individual’s background.
Integrating Behavioral Health into Medical Systems
Nouhi’s professional background includes significant contributions to healthcare systems that integrate behavioral health within traditional medical settings. In previous clinical collaborations, she helped implement psychological support directly into medical appointments. This model allowed patients to receive emotional support in real time, improving communication between patients and providers and strengthening overall treatment outcomes.
She also trained medical professionals to use communication techniques that foster collaboration rather than blame. By encouraging small but meaningful shifts in language and tone, she helped transform clinical interactions into opportunities for motivation, understanding, and engagement.
These same principles now guide Marina Health’s consulting and educational programs, where professionals and organizations learn how to build cultures of psychological safety, resilience, and effective communication.
Telehealth and the Modern Therapy Landscape
The rise of telehealth has expanded Marina Health’s reach, allowing clients to access care across borders. The practice emphasizes that meaningful therapeutic work transcends physical proximity. What matters most is presence, trust, and genuine engagement. Virtual sessions offer clients flexibility and help them integrate therapy into their routines, often beginning their day with clarity and focus.
At the same time, Marina Health encourages clients to maintain healthy boundaries in virtual sessions, treating therapy as a protected time for reflection and growth. This balance of accessibility and structure ensures that telehealth remains both convenient and transformative.
Encouraging Early and Preventive Care
A recurring theme in Marina Health’s philosophy is that therapy should be proactive, not reactive. Many clients express that they wish they had started therapy sooner, realizing that it can serve as maintenance and prevention rather than crisis response.
Marina Health encourages people to view therapy as a tool for personal growth, awareness, and intentional living. Through introductory consultations and educational outreach, the practice helps individuals take meaningful steps toward a more balanced and fulfilling life.
The Future of Integrated Therapeutic Care
Looking ahead, Nouhi envisions a healthcare landscape where psychological and medical services function as one cohesive system. As research continues to affirm the deep interconnection between body and mind, she anticipates broader adoption of integrated behavioral health within hospitals and clinics worldwide.
The next decade will likely bring a shift toward early intervention and wellness-focused care, supported by digital tools and technologies that enhance accessibility. Yet despite these advancements, the essence of care will remain deeply human.
Marina Health embodies this principle, offering a model of therapy and education that honors the full complexity of each individual, supporting both physical and emotional dimensions of well-being, so people can truly thrive through change.
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