Marie Cortez
Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Certified Professional Life Coach
Marie Cortez
Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Certified Professional Life Coach
For over 30 years, I’ve dedicated my work to helping people navigate change, overcome challenges, and create more meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Across diverse settings and life experiences, one belief has remained constant: every person has the capacity to grow, transform, and thrive. With the right support, clarity, and encouragement, real change is always possible.
My work is guided by a deep commitment to improving quality of life and supporting personal and emotional growth — helping individuals reconnect with their strengths and move forward with confidence and purpose.
The quote in my high school yearbook was:
"Keep trying! Do not give up hope. And most of all ... Never stop believing in yourself"
I wholeheartedly believe this has been my True North and I am thrilled you have clicked on my website. I hope you are ready to take the next step to fulfill the goals and dreams you want to accomplish. Glad you are listening to that little voice inside of you that may be saying "I want more out of life". This is the your first step in the journey you want to embark on this season of your life.
I Support Individuals and Organizations Seeking Meaningful Change, Including:
Life Coaching is a partnership between the coach and the client. We will work together to define your goals and create a plan of action. With my professional experience in the helping field, I easily connect with mental health professionals and school educators, because I get their struggles and their passion.
My personal experience living with type 1 diabetes allows me to assist those living with diabetes reach their full potential- I have walked in your shoes; I feel your frustration and can help you live a healthier life with diabetes. On the other hand, I can also help those caring for their children living with diabetes. I can help you, the caretaker, overcome your fears, about your child’s health and life and give you the tools to empower your children. I am also bilingual (English/Spanish).
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Are you struggling to find purpose and passion in your life? If you want to change the trajectory of your life; but don’t know where or how to start-life coaching is for you! If you find yourself at a turning point in life, whether you are seeking personal or career changes, Life Coaching can help you transform your life. Connect with your life coach today!
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Are you a Mental Health Professional, feeling burnt out, underpaid, overworked, looking to do more with your career? Or are you a mental health professional looking for consultation from another mental health professional? Whether you have been in the field for 5 or 30 years, if this is your state of mind, life coaching can help you achieve your career aspirations and/or career advancement. Connect with your life coach today!
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Are you a Master level Social Worker looking to get the required 100 hours of supervision to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Connecticut? Becoming an LCSW will offer you more professional opportunities. I offer one on one supervision. Connect with me today!
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If you are a person living with diabetes (type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes), struggling to manage the ups and downs of diabetes, life coaching is for you. If you are struggling to adjust your life to all the changes diabetes brings and you are seeking to improve/maintain the quality of your life, contact me today!
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Are you the parent of a youth who is living with diabetes and struggling to manage their diabetes? Is your child being defiant with their diabetes and you are finding yourself lost and scared of their health? Are you struggling to address your child’s behavior and/or their lack of care towards their diabetes? With my experience as a person with type 1 diabetes and my professional skills, I can help you, the caretaker, overcome your fears about your child’s health and life, and give you the tools to empower your children. Connect with your life coach today!
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I have 19 years of experience in the school system as a school social worker and currently hold and maintain my Professional Educator Certification in school social work for the state of CT. With my experience and professional background, I offer the following workshops.
Reducing Stress in the work-place
Stress Reduction for Educators
Working with students that live with Type 1 diabetes
Preventing Social Worker Burnout
Self-Care for Mental Health Providers (In school settings, this can be tailored to all school counselors, school social workers/school psychologists)
How Diabetes can affect one's mental health
Living with chronic (lifelong) medical conditions
NOTE: Given my experience I can also create a PD (Professional Development) suited for the needs of the school as well.
Check out my book on Amazon
This book is written from the patient’s perspective — honest, human, and deeply personal.
For those living with diabetes, this book is an invitation to feel seen, understood, and empowered. It encourages readers to advocate for themselves, trust their voice, and recognize that their life is about far more than numbers, diagnoses, or limitations.
For those who do not live with diabetes, this book offers insight, understanding, and compassion. It helps readers better understand what diabetes truly means — and how to be more supportive, patient, and present for the people in their lives who live with it every day.
Whether you are a Person with Diabetes (PWD) or not, this book is ultimately about awareness, connection, and shared humanity. My hope is that what you learn here doesn’t stop with you — but is carried forward, shared openly, and passed on to help create a more informed, compassionate world.
