Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisol Blanco.
Hi Marisol, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Cuba until I was 15 and I always said I wanted to be either a Psychologist or a Pediatrician. Honestly, I didn’t even know what these professions really entailed; however, I knew I wanted to be in a helping profession. I had a soft heart for people who were struggling, and helping them to feel better felt like something I was meant to do.
I felt a special connection to both kids and older adults. There’s something about their honesty, their stories, and the way they let you into their world that really stayed with me. Growing up with loving grandparents and an extended circle of family/friends taught me early on what compassion, respect, and genuine curiosity can mean to people. It can help them grow, feel worthy, and see themselves and others differently.
When I came to the U.S., I brought all of those values with me. I didn’t have a roadmap, but I had passion and determination. Becoming a psychologist didn’t feel like a big decision—it felt like the next natural chapter in my life.
And now, in my work, I still lead with that same values. I mix deep emotional work with humor, warmth, and the belief that emotional growth is built through connection, storytelling, new corrective experiences, and support throughout this process.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road but I’ve learned over the years through my clients’ stories, that people hardly have smooth roads. We look at them, we talk to them, and have no idea about the mountain of pain they might carry on their backs. So now when I look back at others’ stories or at my own, I see experiences that have led to pain/suffering, resilience, and as a result, a different way of perceiving ourselves, others, and our world. My hope is to help them revisit their stories and find the missing pieces that can give them a different perspective, which would be more suitable for today’s reality. Personally, coming from Cuba meant leaving the people I loved the most behind. There’s a certain heartbreak in stepping away from the people who matter most, not knowing if you’ll ever see them again, and holding on to the goodbyes that were never explicitly said. Starting fresh without them wasn’t easy. But even through the hard parts, I was surrounded by so much love from those whom I still had. They became this safety net that kept me going. Their support and encouragement were what helped me push forward when everything else felt uncertain.
And honestly, that’s a big reason why I gravitated toward attachment-based psychotherapy in my work. I’ve lived firsthand how powerful it is to feel supported and emotionally held. Similar to other people, my road has had its own challenges, but it’s also been full of love—and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Marbay Counseling & Psychological Services, LLC?
As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 18 years of experience, I founded Marbay Counseling & Psychological Services to provide quality and evidence-based care that helps people not just cope, but build deeper connections with themselves and others.
We offer bilingual (English and Spanish) Psychological/Psychoeducational Evaluations for children and adults, including testing for learning differences, ADHD, giftedness, and other cognitive or emotional challenges in the Davie and surrounding areas. For adults, we provide online therapy (throughout Florida) for anxiety, depression, grief, adjustment struggles, and relationship concerns. We also conduct professional Evaluations for Emotional Support Animals and supervise Registered Mental Health Interns and Psychology trainees.
What sets Marbay apart is a genuine care and curiosity for each person’s struggles as well as their strengths. As a client, family member, or consultant, you will never feel rushed or part of a transaction. Rather, you will experience a completely supportive and encouraging relationship, with an individualized therapy approach, and be provided with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral resources that work for you. In this supportive context, you can heal past wounds, strengthen connections, and create meaningful, long-lasting change.
Since affordability and accessibility are essential values at Marbay, most major health insurances are accepted and therapy is available online throughout the state of Florida and other PayPact-participating states. This video access to your therapy helps to reduce the impact of obstacles such as transportation/mobility, rigid schedules, and physical health.
How do you think about luck?
I’ve been fortunate to meet mentors, colleagues, and friends who believed in me, challenged me, and introduced me to opportunities I didn’t know were available to me. I approached those relationships with openness, without knowing where life would take us, and with a willingness to give them my best. Those connections have shaped how I work, how I grow, and how I approach helping others.
That’s why I truly believe people cross our paths for a reason. Everyone who has interacted with us, sometimes in small, subtle ways, and sometimes in profound, transformative ways, has played a part in guiding us to where we are today. It’s about timing, trust, and staying open to connecting to the people around you. It’s about being open to the people who come into our lives.
Pricing:
- Most major health insurances accepted
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marbaycounseling.com
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/marisol-blanco-hollywood-fl/1056121
Image Credits
Captured by Alex Rosa, featuring Leonardo, Alexandra, and their dog Bella, with parental permission. All rights reserved.
