About the Founder
Meet Dr. Theresa Marie Lewis
Licensed Professional Counselor & Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D), serving New Jersey with compassion and cultural attunement.
Dr. Theresa Marie Lewis, LPC
Dr. Theresa Marie Lewis is the founder of Phoenix Rising Behavioral Health & Wellness, LLC. She is a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) committed to providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health care to individuals, couples, and families in New Jersey.
Her practice is dedicated to serving diverse populations, with a particular emphasis on the psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of historically underserved communities. She offers hybrid sessions—both in person and virtual—to clients throughout the state of New Jersey.
- Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D), Counseling Psychology — Saint Elizabeth University
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), New Jersey (# 37PC00866800)
- MA, Counseling Psychology — Saint Elizabeth University
- End-of-Life Death Doula
- Certified Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Advocate (SART)
- Certified in “Oh Happy Day” Culturally Adaptive Depression Intervention
- Adjunct Faculty Member
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My Story
Why I do this work
I founded Phoenix Rising Behavioral Health & Wellness, LLC because I believe healing should be rooted in both clinical excellence and cultural humility. For too long, Black, Brown, and historically underserved communities have been asked to leave parts of themselves outside the therapy room—our grief, our spirituality, our identities, our histories. I wanted to create a space where none of that has to be edited.
My work is trauma-informed, spiritually integrative, and identity-centered. Whether I am sitting with someone navigating loss, a couple rebuilding trust, a young adult questioning who they are, or a community grieving collective harm, I show up with the same commitment: to see the whole person, not just the symptoms.
The phoenix is more than a name to me. It is a promise. Healing is not about erasing what happened; it is about learning how to rise with it. I am honored to walk beside my clients as they do exactly that.
What Guides My Practice
My values
I meet every client with warmth, empathy, and unconditional respect. Healing begins when you feel truly seen and safe. I hold space for your pain, your story, and your humanity—without judgment, and without expecting you to shrink any part of yourself to be understood. Compassion, to me, is a steady, grounded presence that says: you are worthy of care.
Healing is not linear, and growth rarely looks the way we expect. I honor the seasons of the journey—the breakthroughs and the setbacks, the grief and the reclamation. Together we cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and the tools to move forward at a pace that respects your nervous system, your story, and your spirit. Like the phoenix, you are always rising.
You are the expert on your own life. My role is to walk beside you—not ahead of you—offering clinical insight, cultural attunement, and honest feedback while honoring your voice at every step. We build goals together, revisit them together, and celebrate them together. This is your story; I am here as a trusted partner in the work.
Clinical Focus
Areas of specialty
Drawing on years of clinical training, teaching, and community work.
- Trauma & PTSD (including first responders and 9/11 community)
- Grief, loss, and end-of-life support
- Culturally responsive care for Black and BIPOC clients
- Spirituality, faith, and meaning-making
- Anxiety, depression, and life transitions
- Couples, family, and multicultural counseling
- Sexual assault and domestic violence recovery
- Identity development and personal growth
Beyond the Practice
Speaking, teaching & recognition
Dr. Lewis is a sought-after speaker, workshop facilitator, adjunct professor, and mentor across New Jersey and beyond.
- Panelist: Community Action Alliance at Montclair State University (2026)
- Panelist: Psychology Professionals of Tomorrow (2026)
- Workshop: Multicultural Competence in Therapy — World Trade Center Center of Excellence (2025)
- Workshop facilitator — Good Grief Spring Institute: Creative Pathways to Healing: Grieving Youth (2025)
- Workshop facilitator — Good Grief Spring Institute: Cultural Impact of Grief & Loss (2024)
- Trained 180 Health & PE teachers in Newark in response to NJ Gov. Murphy’s Grief Bill S3330/A5015 (2024)
- Guest speaker — Association of Black Psychologists 55th Annual Convention, Phoenix, AZ (2024)
- Keynote: Presbyterian Church of Ghana — The Impact of Bullying on Adolescents & Youth (2024)
- Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in various universities in New Jersey since 2022
- Honorary Clinical Preceptor — Walden University
- Founder & mentor — Theresa Marie Lewis Mentorship & Professional Development Initiative for emerging BIPOC therapists
- NJABPsi Dr. Dan Williams Scholarship (2026)
- NY State Assembly Citation for Leadership Award (2025)
- APA Division 17 Student Award for Distinguished Contributions to Social Justice in Positive Psychology (2024)
- Outstanding Student Award, Psy.D in Counseling Psychology (2024)
- NJABPsi Dr. Lawrence Houston Scholarship (2024, 2025) & Dr. Mel Gary Scholarship (2024, 2025)
- Programs Chair — New Jersey Association of Black Psychologists (2026–2028)
Client Voices
What people say
Anonymized reflections from clients, workshop attendees, and partners.
“Dr. Lewis created a space where I finally felt safe to bring my whole self—my faith, my grief, my questions. She didn't rush me. She understood me.”
Individual therapy client
“Her cultural humility is rare. As a Black professional navigating burnout and identity, I didn't have to explain the context. She already got it.”
Virtual therapy client
“Dr. Lewis spoke to our group with depth, warmth, and truth. She made grief something we could name without shame. Our attendees are still talking about it.”
Workshop organizer