STURDY LEADERSHIP & GROWTH
Hi, I’m Dr. Mari Marquez.
I’m a personal growth educator, a researcher, and a believer that we don't just "get over" loss—we grow around it.
For years, I navigated the corporate world. But after 2018—a year defined by the loss of my father, my husband, and our second child—I realized the standard "stages of grief" models weren't enough for the messy, long-term reality of carrying heavy things.
I knew there had to be a better way. I went back to school to earn my PhD in Psychology because I wanted to find the mechanics of growth. I wanted to translate clinical research into simple, sturdy strategies that actually work when life feels like it's falling apart.
Today, my work focuses on Post-Traumatic Growth through my Five Pillars framework. I’m here to help you move from reactive survival to intentional agency, one gentle step at a time.
THE FOUNDATION
Academic Background & Professional Training
PhD in Psychology
Focused on the psychological framework of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG). Doctoral work included specialized research in how the bereaved can grow after loss. Member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, recognizing academic excellence and professional commitment to the field.
MBA in Leadership
Bringing strategic connection and organizational agency to personal development, bridging the gap between clinical theory and professional leadership principles for a more structured approach to growth.
ASU Certification
Certified in Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families through the ASU REACH Institute, focusing on evidence-based frameworks for family stability and adaptation.
Specialized Training
Advanced certifications and training in Grief Companioning, Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), and Prolonged Grief.
Group Facilitation
Extensive experience leading support groups for traumatic loss across various organizations, creating research-informed spaces for emotional regulation and meaning-making.
Advocacy & Speaking
Community Advocate with Modern Widows Club leading their Spanish speaking groups and frequent speaker at women’s empowerment events, leading others from reactive survival toward intentional, long-term adaptation.
The Five Pillars of Growth After Loss
01 · protect
Preservation
Guard your energy, your story, your memories — and the version of you that is still becoming.
02 · settle
Regulation
Bring your nervous system back to a window where you can feel without being depleted.
03 · source
Anchoring
Find your steady place in what you hold dearly and continue bonds with your loved one.
04 · choose
Agency
Reclaim small, daily choices to rebuild a sense that your life is still authored by you.
05 · reach
Connection
Allow yourself to reconnect with yourself, people, and the world around you.
COMMUNITY & ADVOCACY
Where heart meets research expertise.
Modern Widows Club
Serving as a Community Advocate and guest speaker, providing Spanish-language resources and leadership for women navigating life after loss.
ASU Reach Institute
Certified Facilitator for the Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families program, leading evidence-based cohorts to strengthen family stability.
NACG Member
Active member and symposium speaker for the National Alliance for Children's Grief, advocating for research-informed support for families.
STAY FOR GROWTH
Three ways to move forward.
The Membership
Access an on-demand workshop library, monthly live Q&As, and a supportive environment.
Explore MembershipThe Podcast
Listen to the "Growth After Loss" podcast for real stories of post-traumatic growth, regulation, and agency.
Listen to EpisodesThe Workbook
Get your copy of "Gentle Steps for Growing Around Grief" to begin the process of intentional integration.
Get the Workbook Reflections
Join Growth Notes
Twice a month, insights on regulation, agency, and post-traumatic growth are sent straight to your inbox.Â
