Marcus Johnson , LMHC

Marcus Johnson grew up in New Jersey and has lived in Harlem, New York since 1992. He is a dedicated counselor and mediator who centers advocacy in his work with diverse populations. Marcus has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) since 2006 and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) since 2002. The LMHC credential indicates professional training and licensure to practice mental health counseling, and the CRC denotes specialized certification in helping people with disabilities pursue greater independence and vocational goals. He also holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University (2002) and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University (2007).

Before entering the helping professions, Marcus studied dance on full scholarship at The Juilliard School. A motor vehicle accident at age 20 resulted in a spinal cord injury that changed his life course and informed his commitment to rehabilitation, advocacy, and community-based support. Over his career he has worked extensively with people living with trauma and post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, addictions, sleep and eating concerns, intimacy and parenting issues, anger, and compassion fatigue.

For fifteen years he served as Director of Advocacy at a community-based Managed Long-Term Care organization, helping adults with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions access housing supports, Social Security services, Medicaid and Medicare, vocational rehabilitation through ACCESS-VR, and other local and state resources. He currently serves as an Advocacy Specialist with a Health Home organization, and brings a motivational, collaborative style to sessions that blends therapy, coaching, and mediation. Marcus integrates advocacy experience with clinical practice to support clients as they identify goals and pursue meaningful change.

Motivational and Rehabilitation Approaches for Remote Care

Marcus Johnson frequently uses Motivational Interviewing, a collaborative, client-centered method that helps people explore their ambivalence and strengthen motivation for change. This approach suits goals like managing addictions, improving sleep and eating habits, and making lifestyle adjustments.

He also draws on rehabilitation counseling principles that focus on practical strategies for living with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Rehabilitation counseling helps clients develop skills, access resources, and pursue vocational or community participation goals, and is particularly relevant for those adapting after injury or managing long-term health needs.

Marcus often incorporates a motivational coaching and mentoring style to complement therapeutic work, supporting clients as they set achievable steps and build confidence. Choosing the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process - Marcus works collaboratively with each person to identify methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences.

Online therapy options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to fit care into busy schedules and to connect from different locations. These formats offer flexibility for check-ins, longer sessions, or ongoing messaging-based support, helping clients maintain momentum between appointments.