Marie Pinto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) who brings a robust background in evidence-based trauma care, dual-diagnosis treatment, and high-acuity clinical intervention to the First Responders Wellness Center team. She earned both her Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

 

Prior to joining FRWC, Marie served as a lead group therapist at Compass Health Center within their Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs. In this role, she provided intensive daily therapeutic care to individuals navigating severe trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, and co-occurring substance use challenges. As a designated Substance Use Lead, Marie spearheaded curriculum enhancement for Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) programming, trained clinical staff on specialized group facilitation, and collaborated closely across multidisciplinary medical and clinical teams.

 

Marie’s foundation also encompasses medical case management at the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center and residential addiction treatment at Stepping Stones Treatment Center. Her clinical approach is deeply trauma-informed, collaborative, and structured, combining practical coping skill development with evidence-based modalities like CBT, DBT, CPT, and ACT.

 

With a strong appreciation for the unique culture, operational pressures, and cumulative stress faced by first responders, Marie is committed to providing a secure, non-judgmental environment where public safety personnel can process critical incident trauma, address substance reliance or burnout, and build long-term psychological resilience. Additionally, her fiancé served as a police officer in a large city for over five years, providing her with a personal understanding of the unique stressors experienced by spouses and families of first responders.

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