Marcos Apolonio received his Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in Community Mental Health from California State University East Bay, and a Bachelor of Theology degree, with an emphasis in Education and Pastoral Care, from Universidade Adventista São Paulo, Brazil. He has a rich experience as a community leader and counselor in Brazil and in the United States. Since 2003 he has been working as an advocate, spiritual counselor and mental health therapist. He also has extensive training and experience working with the LGBTQ community.

He works with young adults, families, and adults in search of support. For the therapeutic relationship he combines different modalities of treatments, but his main framework is gfocused on empowerment and strength and acknowledging the influence of social challenges, while processing difficult and traumatic life circumstances. He utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles to encourage the practice of healthy coping mechanisms with the aim of finding balance and improving self-regulation.

Marcos is a lecturer at California State University East Bay and teaches at the Master of Social Work Program. Besides English, he is also fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.