Michael DeMarco, PhD, LMHC, LMFT

Clinical Supervisor, Certified Sex Therapist, Psychotherapist

Therapeutic Perspective

I think counseling and therapy should be effective and practical.  That's why I use a style of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) called rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Modern therapy doesn't have to last for years and years. Our goal is to help clients learn how to be their own therapists and to design a life that works for them and not against.  This is therapy for the 21st Century- not based on religion or pseudo-science. We start with weekly sessions and I try to teach you how to monitor your progress from one week to the next to see if our work is right for you. To me, being in therapy, whether for anxiety or sexuality issues is like learning a language. I'm here to give you one way of learning this language. Using what you learn in session and applying it as best you can in your daily life will help you become more fluent- but fluent doesn't mean perfect.  There's no "cure" for learning French- you just keep practicing it until you can do with it what it is you would like to do with it as best you can.

 Professional Bio

I graduated with my Masters in Psychology in 2002 with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Miami Institute of Psychology/ Carlos Albizu University switching from their APA approved doctoral program to their Marriage and Family Therapy program when I realized my passion was in helping people work out their relationship and sexuality issues. I continued my training at the American Academy of Clinical Sexology, which was was one of the only doctoral programs in the country approved to offer training leading to Florida's Sex Therapist certification. I became a board certified clinical sexologist in 2003. I began my work in private practice with some stints along the way as mental health therapist in a transgender program in the Bronx, mental health supervisor at the Staten Island LGBT Center, president of the NYC Chapter of the New York Mental Health Counselors Association, Member at Large of the New York Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and adjunct faculty teaching human sexuality and psychology courses in various undergraduate and graduate departments. In 2015, I added associate producer to the list (it sounds fancier than it was) -  I spent some volunteer hours helping to spread word about the world's first documentary about masturbation called Sticky: A Self Love Story. I am currently practicing in New York (LMFT, LMHC). In December 2017 I became an AASECT Certified sex therapist.

I am currently accepting new clinical supervisees in New York. I am currently accepting clients via webcam (residents of New York).

Credentials

2019- California Board of Behavioral Sciences- AMFT (Associate Marriage and Family Therapist )

2017 - American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) - Certified Sex Therapist

2017- Louisiana State Licensed Professional Counselor (Active)

2016 - Albert Ellis Institute - Primary Certificate- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

2011- Vermont State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Inactive)

2011- Vermont State Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (Inactive)

2009-2010- New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA)- Chapter President

2009-2010- New York Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (NYAMFT)- Member At Large (State Division Level) - now part of AAMFT

2009-10- Staten Island LGBT Community Center- Director of Mental Health Services (1 year grant)

2008-09- Community Healthcare Network- Mental Health Therapist - Bronx Transgender Program (1 year grant)

2006 American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists- Clinical Fellow #97642

2006- National Credentialing Academy (NCA)- Certified Family Therapist (CFT) 

2006- Professional Psychologist Certification Board- National Certified Psychologist (Inactive)

2006- Missouri State Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) License # 2006022129  (Inactive)

2006- National Health Service Corps grant recipient

2006- New York State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) License # 136

2006- New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) License # 2337

2006- National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) - National Certified Counselor (NCC)

2003-2006- Clinical Supervision with Dr. Elena Lesser-Bruun, LMF

2003- World Professional Association for Transgender Health (Formerly HBIGDA)- Clinical Member

2003- American Board of Sexology (ABS)  Board Certified Clinical Sexologist- # 2657

Education

2007- American Academy of Clinical Sexologists/Maimonides University- PhD Clinical Sexology Doctoral Thesis - Gender Roles and Sexually Driven Behavior in College Students

2002- Miami Institute of Psychology/Carlos Albizu University- MS Psychology- Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, cum laude

2000- University of Missouri in Kansas City- BA French

Other Adventures

2015- Associate Producer- Sticky: A Self Love Story (documentary film about masturbation)

2015- Kansas City Oasis - The ABC’s of Secular Therapy (see top of page)

2013- American Counseling Association presentation- “The state of the field of mental health counseling in New York”

2011-13- City University of New York- Hunter College- Intro to Psychology, Lifespan Development, Human Sexuality, Social Psychology

2010-11- Long Island University- Clinical Practicum 1 & 2

2009- Carnegie Hall Performance with the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps

2009- NYMHCA Presents: Sex on the Couch: Are You Prepared for Sexuality Issues in Your Career as a Therapist?

2007-08- Camp Kansas City’s LGBT Community Newspaper- Sex & Relationship Columnist

2007-08- Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo- Intro to Psychology, Lifespan Development, Human Sexuality

2006-07 Park College, Parkville, MO - Intro to Psychology, Human Sexuality, Lifespan Development

2004-06- City University of New York- BMCC- Intro to Psychology, Lifespan Development