Arin Bass, MA, LMFT
HEAL Marin Founder and Psychotherapist
Professional Bio
Arin Bass is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Lic #83366) with extensive experience supporting adults and adolescents to overcome and heal from mental health struggles such as eating disorders, body image issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, family conflict, professional/academic dilemmas and stress around life transitions. She has experience working in various treatment settings including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, residential treatment, and outpatient private practice.
Committed to effective and compassionate care rooted in evidence-based interventions, she works with clients to identify the root causes of their struggles and develop personalized care plans—always in a safe and nurturing space that allows clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors without judgment. Arin's holistic approach utilizes a wide array of therapies that tend to the mind, body, and soul for deep and lasting well-being and happiness.
Arin earned her B.A as a double major in Psychology and Neuroscience and went on to earn her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from The American School of Professional Psychology. Arin is trained in a wide range of therapeutic techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Family-Based Treatment, Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Internal Family Systems, Psychodynamic, Integrative.
As a therapist, mom, and deep wellness seeker herself, Arin knows from both science and experience that true healing must tend to the mind, body, and soul. To achieve this full gamut of therapies in the past she often found herself referring clients out to specialists, and yearned to someday offer women and adolescents a full suite of holistic healing services in one trusted, supportive, and joyful place. She has manifested this longtime vision by opening HEAL Marin—a mental health haven in the heart of Marin County where women can access highly-qualified practitioners providing the integrated therapies that are the pillars for deep healing and enduring health.
Arin lives in beautiful Marin with her two daughters and dog, Buddy.
Areas of Specialty
Eating Disorders • Disordered eating • Body image issues • Anxiety • Stress • Depression • Relationship issues • Family conflict • Professional/academic dilemmas • Self-realization/self-actualization • Healing wounds of origin • Parenting • Navigating life single or dating • Self-esteem/self-confidence/self-worth
Treatment Approaches
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) • Family-Based Treatment (FBT) • Attachment Theory • Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) • Internal Family Systems (IFS) • Psychodynamic
Publications, Recognitions, and Board Positions
-
Twin pandemics: a dive into the spike in eating disorders during COVID-19, Redwood Bark Newspaper, Jan 2021
-
An In-Depth Conversation About Eating Disorders, Baby Steps Nutrition Podcast, Nov 2022
-
Certified Board of Behavioral Sciences Approved Clinical Supervisor
-
Clinical Supervisor of Eating Disorder Training Track, Community Institute for Psychotherapy
-
Board positions:
-
IAEDP SF Bay Area Chapter, Hospitality Chair
-
Eating Disorder Recovery Support (EDRS), Sponsorship Chair
-
Professional Affiliations
Get to Know Arin
Arin's Why...
I became a therapist because I believe in the power of connection, understanding, and healing. From a young age, I was always the person others turned to when they needed someone to talk to—someone who would really listen without judgment. I didn’t realize it then, but those early moments shaped my path.
What drives me is the deep belief that everyone deserves to be seen and heard. Life can be incredibly hard, and many people suffer from wounds they’ve never had the space to heal. I want to create that space for someone—a place where they feel safe enough to be honest, vulnerable, and real.
Therapy isn’t about giving people answers. It’s about walking with them as they find their own. I’ve seen how powerful that journey can be, and I feel privileged every time someone lets me be part of theirs. Whether it’s helping someone through eating disorders, anxiety, trauma, or simply the struggle of being human, I do this work because I care. Deeply.
Being a therapist challenges me to grow, to stay curious, and to continue learning—not just about psychology, but about people. And every day, I’m reminded of our capacity for change and resilience. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I do what I do.
Arin's daily "healthy" practice
Every day, I carve out time to return to myself. It's not always elaborate or perfect—but it's intentional. My daily “healthy” practice is about creating a pause in the middle of everything else. A moment to check in, breathe, and listen to what I need.
Most mornings, I start with journaling, which is a big part of my “healthy”. Writing helps me process what’s beneath the surface. It’s where I untangle thoughts, reflect on patterns, and reconnect with my intentions. I include gratitude practice, as I find that it’s easy to get distracted by life, and gratitude practice reminds me of what I already have, which brings me peace.
I always invite in time for stillness. Sometimes it’s meditation, other times it’s just sitting with a cup of coffee and letting my thoughts wander. Sometimes I notice how I feel. I tune into my body— what thoughts am I having? Where am I holding tension? What emotions are lingering? I don’t try to fix anything right away. I just notice.
Movement is healing, too. A walk, yoga, dancing in my kitchen—whatever helps me feel alive, a spark of joy, or grounded in my body again. I remind myself that healing isn’t just in the mind. It lives in the body, too.
And finally, I try to end my day with gentleness. That might mean a few deep breaths before bed, or just giving myself permission to rest. Healing isn’t about doing more. It’s about allowing myself to be, fully and kindly.
This daily practice isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It reminds me that “healthy” is a process, not a destination. And I get to return to it, again and again.