Meet Marcie Rey Landreth, Lcsw

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marcie Rey Landreth, Lcsw. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marcie Rey below.

Hi Marcie Rey , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I had always had a deep knowing that I wanted to help heal others and impact the world. Each hero’s journey always has a back story and well you could say I have my own too. Like many children, I was born in a home of turmoil and dysfunction in my early years. Though, my parents were able to make sense of their lives and heal from their own brokeness that deep sense of pain never truly left me. My father was an addict and my earliest memories of him were stained by his addiction.

In high school, my father died of cancer which placed a gaping hole in my heart. The desire to help others never left as I chose a career path in non-profit development helping the homeless, and working with undocumented workers, asylum seekers, and refugees. I had given my life to help alleviate the suffering of others.

This was all made possible because I had married a lawyer who had a stable career and made the majority of our income. Non-profits dont exactly pay much. It all changed one day when my husband informed me that he wanted to be a border patrol agent. I didn’t exactly jump up for joy about this. I was actually very angry about it all. His decision would significantly change me and my family’s lives. At the time, I had a daughter going into high school and two younger children in elementary. But in my reluctance, I knew that I couldn’t tell my daughter that she could be whatever she wanted to be when she grew up if we weren’t willing to try new things and take chances.

I found myself in this small rural town of 10,ooo people near the US border in New Mexico. I was still so angry and upset about it all. This little town veered me off my path and set me in a new direction. Everything had changed. The desert almost demands it of you. What you learn about the desert is it’s a desolate place, you have to dig your roots in deep to be nourished. In the same way, I had to look deep into myself and see what I wanted from my life. I was pressing the reset button.

As I embraced the challenges of the desert, It began to show me my path. This little town had a University and a Master’s of Social Work program. I was accepted into their program and learned on my first day of class that I had always been a social worker. Then I began working at one of the only non-profits in the community. I was hired as the education and outreach coordinator. I was asked to speak at a church on the topic of sexual violence. While preparing for the speech my childhood came whirling in as I remembered my mother’s cousin who was brutally beaten, rapped, and left dead in a park. My mother was with her that night and I had heard that story more times than I could count. It was a cautionary tale to never leave your friends alone at a party.

Eventually, I ran the rape crisis advocacy program and worked a 24hr rape crisis line, and responded to calls in the emergency room. I was with people on possibly the worst days of their lives. I was able to be there with them and hold that space because I knew what deep pain felt like. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my career but it was an honor to be with them.

I wouldn’t have chosen that path on my own. It really chose me, maybe the desert chose me. Now as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I help individuals who are overcoming past traumas and assist them in reconnecting to their inner self. My business Heart Development Strategies, LLC was birthed from that place in the desert. I received from her the mental strength to see myself more clearly, to dig deep, and push past my fear, my pain, and my hesitation, and to see the humanity in all people. I will forever be grateful as I see my purpose two-fold first to help heal people and to help end sexual violence.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Feeling disenchanted by the political system, Marcie left her job as a political fundraiser and turned her focus towards non-profits. Marcie spent 15 years working as a non-profit professional in the areas of capacity building, development, and program management.

Marcie worked with an immigrant rights organization, a family center, and other social services agencies. During that time, she co-founded two non-profits, The Joseph Center, a day shelter program helping homeless families and marginalized communities as well as Set Free Refuge, a safe house and mental health program for human trafficked survivors.

Through her work as a mental health therapist, she specialized in serving sexual abuse and human trafficked survivors. Marcie expanded her efforts into the business Heart Development Strategies which encompass emotional healing workshops and group work. Heart Development Strategies promotes the mind/body/soul connection and physical healing through internal work.

Marcie Rey Landreth, LCSW is a mental health professional with over 15 years of non-profit leadership experience. Marcie is the Founder & Creator of Fierce Feminina Inspired, a newsletter created to inspire and impassion women leaders in their businesses, non-profits, and community action. We help women leaders learn how to “Be” instead of falling into the “doing” trap. We are building fiercely confident women through mental health tools and therapeutic support.

That’s a bit of bio…

So much of my story and my businesses are intertwined. I have two businesses Heart Development Strategies, LLC, and Fierce Feminina. Additionally, I am starting an apparel and accessories company focused on Ending Sexual Violence.

Heart Development Strategies, LLC provides mental health therapy in the state of Florida to women who are struggling with mental exhaustion and burnout. We focus on serving high-impact women who have spent their lives doing for everyone else but have lost themselves in the process and need to reconnect to their inner selves. Heart Development Strategies provides a series of support groups throughout the year called The Resilant Women Support Group.

Fierce Feminina is strengthening women leaders to Rise Fiercely. We are building fiercely confident women through mental health tools and therapeutic coaching support. Fierce Feminina provides a monthly newsletter, empowerment speaking, workshops, and it is launching its first 90-day Mental Strength Training Program in Spring 2025. We are super excited about this and the impact it will have on helping women develop the necessary tools to overcome life’s challenges and empower them to live confidently.

My purpose in life is to be a catalyst for ending sexual violence. Having co-founded two non-profits the Joseph Center and Set Free Refuge, I recognize that non-profits have limited resources and their executive staff spend much of their time raising money. Knowing this, I wanted to start a business that could bring awareness and raise money for nonprofits that provide help and support to sexual assault survivors. I am in the process of starting an apparel and accessories company.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

In my journey, I have learned to embrace change, listen to my intuition, and forgive myself as well as others. Life has challenges and you have to sometimes bend when these times occur in your life. If you refuse to bend or change directions life will make you or you will miss the beauty that life truly has for you all together.

You can have all the plans in the world and your life could be great but internally I think you know when something isn’t quite right. It’s in those moments where you have to stop and listen. Life is magical and beautiful and it has so much to teach you. Don’t be stagnant. Take a risk you never know where you will end up.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am trying to start my apparel and accessories company to end sexual violence. I would love to partner with someone who is already in the business and customize certain products for the purpose of ending sexual violence. I would also be interested in collaborating with people already in the industry or with individuals who have podcasts, and media outlets to promote the products when they are ready for distribution.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Toni Sparks of Short Story Studios

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