Mara DeStefano is a compassionate and results-driven mental healthcare professional with over 20 years of diverse experience in the field. She has dedicated her career to supporting individuals struggling with mental health challenges and substance use disorders, helping them embark on their journey to recovery with empathy and expertise.
Mara’s extensive background includes work in substance abuse treatment, acute psychiatric care, and emergency settings. She has 11 years of experience in the substance abuse field, serving in admissions, case management, and utilization review roles in California, Tennessee, and internationally in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Her skills in crisis response were further honed during her three years as a certified crisis screener for the State of New Jersey, where she worked alongside law enforcement to conduct mobile crisis evaluations.
Mara excels in providing clinical assessments, crisis de-escalation, and individualized care. Her work emphasizes connecting clients to quality mental health resources and treatment providers. She has a proven track record in business development, admissions management, and marketing for mental health and substance abuse programs, achieving measurable growth and operational efficiency in each role. Mara combines emotional intelligence, active listening, and critical thinking to meet client’s needs and empower them to take the next steps toward wellness. Outside of her professional life, Mara enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family