Founder Command Counseling | Mental Health Clinician | Educator | Speaker
Marie holds a master’s in clinical psychology from Carlos Albizu University and has substantially completed doctoral coursework in the same field.
After over a decade in practice, she transitioned into the realm of marketing. Marie then served as a Marketing Executive for eight years in the inpatient substance use disorder industry.
With an avid interest in addressing the psychological needs of first responders, Marie attended and later contributed to the Florida Firefighters Safety and Health Collaborative's Clinician Training and Management between 2017 and 2020. Her dedication was underscored by her role in the Clinician Response Team for Coral Springs Parkland Fire Rescue during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy.
In October 2019, the untimely passing of Alvis Fernandez, a revered firefighter from Boynton Beach, sent shockwaves through all who had the privilege to know him. During a series of station visits spearheaded by an IAFF peer support team from Orlando Fire, Scott Weeks, the Fire Union President of Boynton Beach, recognized the need for dedicated mental health services. He turned to Marie and said, "We need you here."
This call to action prompted Marie to introduce the Command Counseling Center (CCC) to Boynton Beach, a venture she was inspired to create after observing the third-party counseling collaborations at the Orange County Fire Authority in California and understanding exactly what these industries needed to move from a reactive culture to a preventative one. The following year, the HR Manager and Risk Manager organized a strategic meeting between Marie and the Police Chief. The aim was to explore the expansion of CCC's services to cater to the police department.
By 2021, CCC witnessed unprecedented growth, securing contracts with departments spanning from Miami Dade to Jacksonville, FL.
An accomplished educator and speaker on mental health, Marie has presented nationwide. She has co-authored a chapter on the subject and is presently pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education and Leadership at Gwynedd Mercy University, anticipating graduation in March 2025.