Marcus Johnson, LMHC

Marcus Johnson lives in Harlem, New York, and brings a long record of advocacy, mediation, and clinical care to his work with adults facing mental health and life challenges. He has served as a counselor and therapist while also representing clients in systems-level matters, drawing on both clinical training and hands-on advocacy experience. Marcus is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) - the LMHC credential indicates professional licensure to provide mental health therapy, and the CRC represents specialized training in supporting people with disabilities and vocational challenges.

Originally from New Jersey, Marcus pursued dance on a full scholarship at The Juilliard School before a motor vehicle accident resulted in a spinal cord injury that reshaped his career path. Following that experience he completed further education, earning two degrees from New York University, including a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in 2002, and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University in 2007. Those academic steps, together with lived experience, inform his perspective on recovery, resilience, and community participation.

Marcus has substantial experience supporting people living with trauma and post-traumatic stress, as well as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. For fifteen years he worked as Director of Advocacy at a community-based Managed Long-Term Care organization helping adults with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions access housing, Social Security benefits, Medicaid and Medicare, vocational services, and government supports. He currently serves as an Advocacy Specialist with a Health Home organization and incorporates motivational, coaching, and collaborative techniques in therapy. Marcus also offers coaching and mentoring for Christians, LGBTQ+ clients, and couples, and he uses Motivational Interviewing to help clients explore change and set meaningful goals. He welcomes the opportunity to work with individuals ready to take the next step toward change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Marcus Johnson

Marcus uses Motivational Interviewing to help clients resolve ambivalence and strengthen personal motivation for change. This collaborative, goal-oriented approach suits people facing addictions, behavior change challenges, or uncertainty about next steps. He also brings a rehabilitation counseling perspective that focuses on practical supports, functional goals, and community participation for people living with physical disabilities or chronic health conditions - that approach emphasizes problem-solving, resource navigation, and partnership in planning recovery and daily living needs.

Marcus pairs these approaches with coaching and mentoring techniques that emphasize collaboration, encouragement, and concrete steps toward clients goals. He works with each person to identify which methods fit best, so the therapeutic plan evolves based on the client’s needs, priorities, and preferences.

Online therapy with Marcus is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to schedule appointments around work, caregiving, or mobility limitations. These options expand access for clients who live outside his area or who prefer flexible session formats, while allowing licensed professionals to maintain continuity of care and adapt methods to the way each person engages best.