Exploring Life & Business with Robert Marchant of Marchant & Associates Counseling & Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Marchant.

Robert, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story begins in Flint, Michigan, a city built on hard work, grit, and perseverance. Both of my parents worked and retired from General Motors. While I deeply respected their dedication and sacrifices, I knew early on that I wanted to follow a different path—one that allowed me to connect with people, understand their stories, and help them grow beyond life’s challenges.
I earned a basketball scholarship to Western Kentucky University, becoming the first person in my family to earn a college degree. Basketball opened doors and taught me discipline, teamwork, and resilience. But during my senior year, a compound fracture of my right tibia and fibula changed everything. The physical pain was tough—but the depression, sadness, and anxiety that followed were even harder. I found myself questioning what was next, realizing for the first time that life doesn’t always go according to plan. It was through that experience that I began to understand the value of perspective, purpose, and the idea that one size truly doesn’t fit all.

In September 2000, I moved to Atlanta, determined to rebuild and find meaning in helping others do the same. Over the next 25 years, I worked across every corner of the mental health field—from community agencies and outpatient hospitals to programs serving military members and their families. Along the way, I saw how deeply trauma impacts people—especially men—and how often we suffer in silence, carrying pain that spills into our relationships, parenting, and sense of self.
In 2012, I opened Marchant & Associates Counseling & Consulting part-time, and by 2017, it became my full-time mission. Today, I dedicate my work to helping men heal, families grow closer, and individuals find freedom through understanding their emotions. My philosophy is simple: healing doesn’t look the same for everyone—and that’s exactly why One Size Don’t Fit All was born.
From Flint to Atlanta, from injury to impact, my journey continues to remind me that every setback holds the seed of purpose—and when we give ourselves permission to heal, we don’t just change our lives, we transform generations.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — the road has had its share of challenges, doubts, and lessons that shaped who I am today.
After my leg injury in college, I went through a period of deep depression, uncertainty, and fear. Everything I thought defined me — sports, success, identity — was suddenly gone. I found myself struggling with the unknown, battling the fear of failure, and wondering if I’d ever be seen or valued beyond what I used to do. That experience forced me to face my emotions head-on, and it planted the seed for how I now understand healing and resilience.

When I moved to Atlanta in 2000, I had to start over. I worked across multiple areas of mental health — community programs, hospitals, and eventually with the military — and I quickly realized that so many people, especially men, were silently carrying pain. What made it even harder was the stigma around mental health, particularly in male spaces. There was this unspoken rule that talking about emotions was a sign of weakness.

As a Black man in the mental health field, I also knew what it felt like to worry about being ignored or dismissed — to question whether my voice or message would be heard. Even when I opened my private practice in 2012, I carried those same fears. Would people come? Would men show up and be honest about what they were feeling?

The early years weren’t easy. There were financial challenges, long days, and moments where I questioned if I was really making a difference. But every struggle — every moment of doubt — shaped my mission. It reminded me that healing doesn’t happen on smooth roads. It happens in the valleys, in the honest conversations, and in the spaces where we give ourselves permission to feel.

Those experiences became the foundation for One Size Don’t Fit All — a movement and message designed to help men and families confront trauma, break silence, and find freedom in vulnerability.

As you know, we’re big fans of Marchant & Associates Counseling & Consulting. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Marchant & Associates Counseling & Consulting was built on a simple but powerful belief — healing should be personal, practical, and purposeful. We are a full-service mental health and wellness practice located in Stockbridge, Georgia, dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families find emotional balance, purpose, and peace.
We specialize in areas such as trauma recovery, men’s mental health, substance use, family therapy, and emotional intelligence development. Our approach combines evidence-based clinical practices with real-world understanding — because therapy shouldn’t just help you cope; it should help you grow.

What truly sets us apart is our ability to meet people where they are. We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to healing. Instead, we help clients uncover what works best for them — whether that’s learning how to communicate better, rebuilding after trauma, or creating healthier boundaries at home and work.

Over the past decade, our work has expanded beyond the therapy room. Through the One Size Don’t Fit All (OSDFA)movement and book, we’ve created community-based workshops, wellness events, and outreach programs that bring healing conversations into everyday spaces. We focus on helping men unlearn silence, families rebuild connection, and communities strengthen through open communication and emotional literacy.

What I’m most proud of brand-wise is that Marchant & Associates has become more than a counseling practice — it’s a safe space for growth. Every client who walks through our doors, whether in person or virtually, is treated with respect, compassion, and the belief that their story matters.

Our message to readers is this: healing doesn’t have to look one way. Whether you’re facing anxiety, trauma, relationship stress, or simply trying to understand yourself better, there’s a path forward that fits you. At Marchant & Associates, our mission is to help you find it — one conversation at a time.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up in Flint, Michigan, came with its share of challenges. It was a city full of pride and resilience, but also one where you had to make tough choices. I saw early on how easy it could be to get caught up in the wrong things. I was fortunate — I had support around me that helped me make good decisions, or at times, I was simply lucky enough to avoid the consequences that many young men who looked like me faced. Those experiences taught me not to take guidance or second chances for granted.

I was an extremely tall and clumsy kid, one who seemed to outgrow everything overnight. Even though I now stand 6’11”, I was a late bloomer from a sports perspective. I wasn’t the most coordinated or polished athlete early on, but I had persistence, discipline, and heart — and that drive eventually earned me a basketball scholarship.

I have a twin sister who’s one minute younger than me and a younger brother, and we were raised by my mother and stepfather, who I proudly call Pop. My grandmother was my favorite person — her warmth, wisdom, and calm spirit always grounded me. I watched my mother work tirelessly, doing whatever it took to make sure our family was cared for and successful. Her strength and sacrifice left a mark that still guides how I show up in life today.

Personality-wise, I was curious, observant, and introspective. I loved sports, but I was just as fascinated by people — how they thought, what they felt, and why they acted the way they did. Even as a kid, I noticed emotions others didn’t talk about. Looking back, being tall, feeling different, and growing up in a city like Flint gave me both perspective and purpose. Those early experiences shaped my empathy, resilience, and the foundation for the man, counselor, and mentor I would eventually become.

Pricing:

• Book, “One Size Don’t Fit All,” can be found on Amazon $17.95

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marchantassociatescounselingandconsulting.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/654135824421574

Image Credits
Pictures taken by Shevon Brown and Reggie Collins