About Mareesa

I am a licensed counselor with more than 20 years of experience working in the mental health field across a variety of clinical settings. Throughout my career, I have worked with diverse populations and individuals facing a wide range of life challenges.

My professional experience includes working with children, adolescents, and adults in community mental health settings, correctional facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and medical environments. I have also worked with individuals experiencing homelessness, those facing significant medical conditions, and individuals navigating complex life circumstances. These varied experiences have provided me with a broad understanding of the social, emotional, and environmental factors that influence mental health and relationships.

Over the course of my career, I have supported individuals dealing with issues such as emotional trauma, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, anxiety, life transitions, and challenges related to family dynamics. Working with people from different backgrounds and life situations has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of how early experiences, family environments, and life stressors can shape the way individuals view themselves and interact with others.

Professional Experience

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A woman with glasses and shoulder-length dreadlocks smiling at her workspace. She is seated at a white desk with an open laptop, notebooks, and a pen. Behind her, there is a couch with floral pillows, a potted plant, and a window with curtains.

Education and Counseling Philosophy

My academic background includes two master’s degrees, one in Public Health and one in Psychology. This interdisciplinary training informs my approach and allows me to consider both the emotional and environmental factors that influence personal well-being and relational functioning.

Through years of clinical work, one theme has remained consistent across the many populations I have served: people want to feel confident in themselves and experience meaningful, healthy connections with others. These experiences have reinforced the importance of helping individuals better understand themselves, strengthen their communication abilities, and improve the quality of their relationships.

More About Mareesa

Outside of my professional work, I am a proud mother of two adult children and a loving grandmother to a joyful granddaughter who brightens my life every day.

Originally from the Caribbean, I moved to the United States as a child and grew up in New York City, experiences that shaped my open and inclusive perspective on life and relationships.

I enjoy creating beautiful spaces through decorating, spending quality time with family and friends, gardening, traveling, especially cruising, and savoring delicious meals. Spirituality and staying connected to a higher power are also important parts of my life.

These personal experiences inform the empathy, warmth, and perspective I bring to my work, allowing me to connect with clients in a meaningful and authentic way.

A woman with shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing a purple top and gold jewelry, sitting at an outdoor table with a brick wall and green shrubbery in the background.