Who is Dr. DeMarquis Clarke?

Dr. DeMarquis Clarke is a licensed marriage and family therapist, educator, consultant, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and NFLPA consultant with more than 25 years of clinical experience. He is the founder and owner of the Center for Relational Change, a thriving group therapy practice, and the founder and CEO of the Institute for Relational Change, where he leads innovative work in culturally grounded, relational-centered care, training, and community engagement.

Dr. Clarke maintains an active private practice and has spent his career supporting individuals, couples, and families across Pennsylvania, Mississippi, New York, and Illinois. His clinical work is rooted in systemic, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed approaches that place healing, dignity, and relationship at the center.


With more than 20 years of experience training and supervising emerging clinicians, Dr. Clarke has shaped the next generation of clinicians and mental healthcare professionals in both academic and community settings. He made institutional history as the first Black earned-tenured Associate Professor at Seton Hill University, where he served as the Program Director for the Marriage and Family Therapy Program.  

A committed advocate for justice and community wellbeing, Dr. Clarke has contributed countless hours to outreach efforts supporting causes such as multiple sclerosis research, anti–sex trafficking initiatives, racial equity, anti-bullying advocacy, poverty reduction, LGBTQ+ rights, and criminal justice reform.

Dr. Clarke holds a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University, a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Tougaloo College. He is a Clinical Fellow of both the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Pennsylvania Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is licensed in both Pennsylvania and Mississippi.

Across every role, Dr. Clarke’s work is guided by a core belief: healing happens in relationships, and every person deserves access to culturally grounded, relational-centered care.

Specialties

  • Couple/marital therapy
  • Sexual abuse and trauma recovery
  • Working with adolescents
  • Working with issues of religion/spirituality, race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation

Services

  • Grief and Loss
  • Emotional distress
  • Gender identity
  • Communication struggles
  • Childhood trauma
  • Racial or ethnic struggles
  • ….and more.

Group Therapies

  • Adult Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
  • Grief and Loss Support Group
  • Self-esteem Support Group

Awards

  • Passion Meets The Road Awards’ 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year
VISIT MY PRACTICE

My Credentials.

Academic Degrees

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University
  • Master of Science, Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Tougaloo College

Academic post

  • Program Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Seton Hill University

  • Tenured Associate Professor in Marriage and Family Therapy, Seton Hill University

  • Adjunct Professor in Counseling Education, Northeastern Illinois University

Professional Membership

  • International Family Therapy Association
  • Clinical Fellow Member of American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Clinical Fellow Member of Pennsylvania Association of Marriage and Family Therapy

License

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Clinical Experience

Over 20 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups at mental health agencies and practices in Mississippi, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

What Others Say

Testimonials

“I began counseling with Dr. DeMarquis Clarke during a very dark period, when my life was in major crisis. I thought I knew myself and understood my problems. However, thanks to the incredible insight and clinical skills of Dr. Clarke, I quickly came to realize that the true issues were yet to be discovered. With Dr. Clarke’s adept guidance, I have embarked upon a path of self-discovery that has profoundly impacted my life. Over the course of our therapeutic work, Dr. Clarke has facilitated a trustworthy, reliable, professional relationship. He listens with immense insight and compassion. He communicates extremely effectively. He challenges me to face the most difficult issues and take direct responsibility for my life. I can honestly say that if it weren’t for my work with Dr. Clarke, my marriage would have ended very badly, my parenting would have suffered greatly and I would be an angry, distrustful person without the skills to build a healthy life. Dr. DeMarquis Clarke is an outstanding clinician.”

“He helped us more than he will ever know. Me and my husband were on the brink of divorce when we went to see Marq. He helped us learn how to communicate, value, respect, and love one another again. It was a pleasure working with him. He saved our marriage.”

“Dr. Clarke is a wonderful therapist. He helped me work through long standing issues of abandonment and neglect. Because I grew up without parents, therapy sessions felt both like what I assume the nurturing of a mother and the challenges of a father would feel. Both of which were needed for my long-term growth.”

“I write these words as a way of expressing our deep and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Clarke for what he’s helped us accomplish for ourselves and our relationship. He provided a space for me and my partner to have an opportunity to escape our own trials, and build a new relationship of trust, safety and enduring love.”

“Dr. D. is a cool counselor. He helped me with abuse issues I had been struggling with for years. He supported me when I was struggling to love myself and pushed me to see the ways I beat up on myself.”

“My marriage was in deep trouble, when we were referred to DeMarquis Clarke for assistance with our relationship problems. I can say that Mark has been instrumental in saving our marriage, helping us solve the problems that existed and showing us the destructive behavior that we were both exhibiting. I find Mark to be a good listener while being non-judgmental. His clinical skills allow him to be insightful in his approach in uncovering the deep rooted issues in a relationship. He is always asking the right questions. After helping us through our initial concerns, my wife and I have continued working with Mark to fine tune our relationship, as well as separately to work to be better individuals.”

“I didn’t expect the sessions Marq and I had would have such long lasting life changing effects, but it has. I feel like a different person. He was able to help me uncover how my emotions were being formed and showed me how disruptive they were being in how I saw myself and my relationships with family and friends.”

“Marq, Marq, Marq… I initially thought I was going to counseling because my girlfriend wanted me to work on communication issues. I never thought I would leave realizing those very communication issues came from my own insecurities, the way I viewed women, and issues with not having a father growing up. Marq has a way of supporting and challenging you to figure out your own life. He helped me with deep seeded issues I thought were dead and buried.”

“Dr. Clarke created our therapy sessions to be a space where I feel safe telling him what is going on with me. When I initially started working with him, I was experiencing lots of anxiety along with self-esteem struggles. Because of his support at showing me my strengths and gentle challenges, my self-esteem has improved and my anxiety has lessened dramatically. He has helped me to become the stronger, more capable individual that he has been seen in me all along.”

“My work with Dr. Clarke has literally changed my life. Events from my past changed me into someone I was not comfortable being. With Dr. Clarke’s help, I have been able to rediscover who I am and who I want to continue to become.”