Nelba Márquez-Greene is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in grief, loss, trauma, their unique relationship to injustice and their impact on individuals and systems.
Image by: Neasa Waaler
Background/Philosophy of Therapy
“It may be a grieving life . . but it is still a beautiful one.”
Nelba Márquez-Greene has over 20 years of leadership and clinical experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist working in two different countries, three academic institutions and various communities. Her specialty area has been trauma, families and larger systems. She was the founding member of her professional organization’s (The Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy- CTAMFT) Diversity Committee and for her efforts she has received many awards. She has appeared on various news outlets and TV shows to advocate for survivor care and currently serves as community for the firearm injury initiative at the Yale School of Public Health. As Yale, she assists the research team in the execution of practices to strengthen collaborative research opportunities, fosters community partnerships, and works to ensure that all community practice-based learning activities follow Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) standards. Prior to joining YSPH in 2023, Nelba ran her daughter’s foundation (The Ana Grace Project) full time, her consultant practice and is a sought-after speaker and presenter. Nelba lost her daughter in the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook School in 2012. She has used her voice tirelessly since to advocate at the federal and local levels for common sense reform in mental health, gun ownership and community strengthening. She now dedicates her practice to serving families (moms and siblings) sitting at the crossroads of grief, trauma and injustice of gun violence in the United States and presenting to/consulting with those who care for them to make necessary systemic changes. Nelba’s unwavering commitment and focus is for survivor voices to be centered in research, care, policy, program and practice decisions.
Nelba founded the Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy’s (CTAMFT) inaugural Diversity Committee and served on the CTAMFT Board of Directors. For her advocacy, she received the 2004 Minority Fellowship Award by the AAMFT, the 2004 Distinguished Professional Service Award, and the 2013 Service to Families Award by CTAMFT. In 2017 she was awarded the Key to the Centre award at the Aurora family Therapy Centre in Winnipeg, MB.
In 2018, she was profiled as one of “100 Women of Color” and a YWCA (CT) Women’s Leadership Award recipient. She was featured in People Magazine’s October 2019 issue as one of Ten Women Changing the World and also recognized by Chelsea Clinton and Hillary Clinton in their Book of Gutsy Women.
Other distinctions include:
2025- Champion of The Human Spirit Award, Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation
2025- Contribution to the Arts Award, The Jazz Gallery
2024- Latina Warrior Award, Latinas & Power Foundation
2022- Recognition of Service, New Britain Board of Education
2021- Benefits Are Endless Award, City of New Britain
2020- Distinguished Alumna, Anchor Award, University of Hartford
Who are her clients?
Individuals, couples and families impacted by grief and/or trauma.
Consultation, Coaching, Public Speaking
Organizations, companies, groups and schools looking to understand how to better support their employees/community.
Communities looking to best support families and individuals and helpers after tragedy.
Organizations, companies, groups and schools focused on the need for compassionate responses to supporting people, mental health awareness, gun violence and more.
Fait communities and grief groups
M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy
2005 - University of St. Joseph
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
2007 - State of Connecticut
A sought after speaker, Nelba has appeared at conferences and gatherings including The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Psychological Association, The Child Trauma Academy, NATCON, Hartford Seminary and many, many more.
“Nelba is one of the most authentic and caring individuals I have ever met. For years, I have watched her move mountains to support communities and grieving families. As a psychotherapist, her ability to empathize and join with her clients, listen deeply, understand fully, and reflect with the client on what this means moving forward, allows for increased levels of healing for those that are experiencing pain.
As a speaker, Nelba imparts her knowledge, wisdom, and personal experiences in a highly impactful way, very quickly joining with the audience at an emotional and heartfelt level, touching all those around her deeply. Her raw, authentic communication- both written and verbal- brings others to a deeper level of understanding, and instills in others a desire to engage more fully in community, family and healing.”
Emily Wang, PhD
Nelba Márquez-Greene lives in CT with her husband and son where she honors both the delightful and not so delightful parts of her grieving life. In addition to her private work at This Grieving Life and running her daughter’s non profit foundation (www.anagraceproject.org) - she currently serves as activist in residence at Yale University in the School of Public Health.