Marci (Mashi) Benzaquen, LCSW is a clinical social worker in private practice in Beverly Hills, California. She is founder of the Benzaquen Counseling Group, Inc., and coordinates as well as supervises a guidance counseling program for over 15 Orthodox Jewish yeshivas and day schools throughout the greater Los Angeles area on behalf of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and the Los Angeles Unified School District. She received her bachelor’s degree from University of California at San Diego in Sociology. She also attended Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Machon Alte Women’s Seminary is Tsfat, Israel. She continued her studies at Machon Chana Women’s Seminary in Brooklyn, NY and then pursued her Master’s Degree at Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Mashi has a wide range of experience with clients from many types of backgrounds, and with all ages across the lifespan. She has worked as a consultant and school-based therapist for children in preschool, elementary and high school. She has developed social skills programs and programs to address other behavioral issues with children including anger management and regulating impulse control.

For years, Mashi coordinated mentoring programs for teens-at-risk both in New York and Los Angeles. As a Safety Kid trainer for nearly 10 years, educating communities near and far on child abuse prevention with Magen Yeladim International is another passion she holds dear. Mashi is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, couples and families one small step at a time. Presently, she spends her days working with youth, adolescents and adults who suffer from anxiety, depression, anger, oppositional defiant issues, and/or relationship difficulties, as well as victims of abuse. She does extensive work with parents, involving them in the healing of their children. In recent years, she has become a trauma specialist.

Mashi developed her own Our Parenting Counts© series of workshops which she offers at schools throughout the community. In addition to her own practice, she provides supervision for newer clinical trainees. Mashi Benzaquen has received advanced training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction through UCLA and incorporates this regularly into her work with her clients. She has advanced training in CBT and DBT as well as EMDR and Somatic Experiencing  which is specifically beneficial for those clients seeking relief from trauma. Mashi trained with Harville Hendrix in IMAGO Relationship Therapy which influences her work with couples and has done extensive research on the most effective methods for parenting utilizing the Whole Brain Child Approach of Dan Siegel, MD and Tina Bryson. Ph.D.

Mashi’s style is warm, empathic and compassionate. She weaves her knowledge and training in various areas to tailor her sessions to meet the needs of the individual. Additionally, she enjoys writing and has edited several publications. She is a devoted wife and mother of four who is passionate about the health and safety of our families, schools and communities.