PuttingFamilyFirst

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MD Portrait of Marquita Dempsey
Online therapist

Marquita Dempsey

Practical, compassionate support for family and life changes

Credentials
LMFT
Experience
10 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Marquita

Marquita Dempsey is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in California with more than 10 years of professional experience. She focuses on concerns such as relationship strain, parenting, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, career shifts, coping with life changes, coaching, and ADHD. Marquita also notes additional experience addressing infidelity.

Her style centers on building an open, nonjudgmental space. She invites clients to share thoughts and feelings honestly.

Background and approach

Sessions aim to be practical and approachable rather than technical. Marquita uses client-centered methods to listen and respond to each person’s priorities. She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, which looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Solution-focused techniques help identify small, realistic steps toward change. She works with people to set clear goals and to try tools between sessions. That can include short behavioral experiments, thought records, or brief goal-setting exercises.

The intent is to create steady progress without overwhelming the day-to-day routine. Looking for support can feel daunting. Marquita emphasizes respect and encouragement while helping people move toward a more fulfilling life.

She offers guidance and practical coaching along the way.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online

Client-centered work means the therapist listens closely and follows the client's priorities. It focuses on empathy and building trust so people can say what matters most and feel understood. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and tries small behavior changes that reduce symptoms like low mood or anxiety. Solution-focused therapy zooms in on concrete goals and quick, practical steps people can try between sessions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. Marquita will collaborate with each client to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. That might mean combining listening and validation with CBT exercises or brief solution-focused plans to jumpstart progress.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules and to check in when questions come up between meetings. With multiple formats, people can pick the way of meeting that feels most comfortable and practical for their situation.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Solution-Focused Therapy

Rather than examining the problem at length, this looks at what is already working and builds on it. Sessions tend to be practical and forward-looking, with small achievable steps, which translates readily to shorter online conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Areas of focus include relationship and family issues, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related concerns, sleeping problems, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career changes, coping with life transitions, coaching, ADHD, and infidelity.
What is the therapeutic style like during sessions?
The approach is warm and nonjudgmental with an emphasis on listening. Sessions are practical and goal oriented, with time spent on skills you can use between meetings.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
She has about 10 years of professional experience working with a range of emotional and relational concerns.
What are the therapist's credentials and where are they located?
Marquita is a licensed marriage and family therapist, CA LMFT 136200, practicing in California.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does payment and cost work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process to begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Experience
10 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English

Next step

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