Marsha Elliott, LMSW

Marsha Elliott is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), who began her 3-year career as a social worker at Staten Island Hospital’s (SIH) Inpatient Psychiatric Center for patients who were involuntarily placed for psychiatric treatment. 

Her career continued as a therapist for 3 years at Long Island Jewish Center, providing services for children and their families. Social workers provide most of the direct services to patients. The team of psychologists and psychiatrists provided weekly consultations, support, and medication, as needed.

Marsha then began her 30-year career in the New York City Department of Education as a clinical social worker providing services to children from elementary to middle school ages and their families. The students were labeled learning and or emotionally disturbed. 

After 19 years Marsha earned her Education Administrative License and became an Assistant Principal, Principal and School Support Specialist at the Central Office of the New York City Department of Education  As  a School Support Specialist she became a certified Restorative Justice Practitioner conducting restorative circles in more than 40 schools, with  district and school administrators, teachers, students, staff and parents. This centralized position was a wonderful  opportunity to combine clinical, educational and administrative skills to encourage all school stakeholders to build restorative communities that can learn to heal and thrive together.  The implementation of restorative practices has helped educators to recognize and appreciate the connection between the social/emotional health of students and their academic achievement, life skills for students and adults and a supportive school culture. 

Marsha retired from the NYC Department of Education in December 2020. I wanted to return to clinical work and began training with the Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). I was amazed at the connection between AEDP and the Restorative Training I provided for the schools. Marsha is a level II AEDP therapist and member of the AEDP Vision Collective as well as the sub-committee Racialized Trauma and Spirituality under the Vision Collective.

As an ordained minister Marsha has a passionate interest in the topic of Racialized Trauma and Spirituality. She hopes that her perspective on what “Christianity really is” vs.  Western culture and practices could be useful to explore in our research journey as well as other forms of spirituality.