This award-winning journalist merges clinical rigor with cultural analysis across The Globe and Mail and specialty platforms. Her 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum keynote redefined therapeutic journalism through live drag performances illustrating identity theory.
"Bring me the stories hiding in plain sight - the everyday rituals that reveal deeper truths about how we heal and prosper."
Recent scoops include a 3-part series on AI-assisted trauma therapy (2024) and an investigative report on cryptocurrency inheritance planning (2023). Habib's work consistently drives policy changes, including new Health Canada guidelines for community-based mental health programs.
Marlene Habib has carved a multifaceted career at the intersection of health, psychology, and personal finance journalism. Her work with The Globe and Mail since 2020 established her as a voice for nuanced healthcare reporting, while her contributions to niche platforms like the Creative Mental Health Forum reveal a passion for innovative storytelling. Earlier bylines in Canadian Family Offices demonstrate her ability to decode complex financial strategies for high-net-worth audiences.
This investigative piece deconstructs the paradox of vacation-related stress through interviews with 12 Canadian psychologists and analysis of Statistics Canada leisure surveys. Habib reveals how societal pressure to "optimize" relaxation creates new anxiety disorders, citing a 23% increase in post-vacation burnout cases. Her methodology combines quantitative data visualization with intimate patient narratives, including a powerful account of a Toronto executive hospitalized after attempting to schedule every minute of a Hawaiian getaway.
Habib's workshop documentation showcases her pioneering work in therapeutic identity exploration. The 4,200-word analysis tracks participants' emotional journeys through costume design and performance art, with pre/post-workshop surveys showing a 68% reduction in social anxiety metrics. Her inclusion of neurodivergent participants and Indigenous storytelling techniques redefines traditional mental health narratives, earning recognition from the Canadian Art Therapy Association.
This deep dive into generational wealth preservation features exclusive interviews with 8 Canadian family office executives managing assets over $500M. Habib decodes complex investment vehicles through relatable analogies, comparing cryptocurrency diversification strategies to "planting both annuals and perennials in a heritage garden." Her analysis of ESG investment trends in ultra-high-net-worth portfolios became required reading at Rotman School of Management.
Habib prioritizes stories demonstrating measurable outcomes from non-traditional therapies. A 2024 piece on VR-assisted PTSD treatment for veterans included before/after fMRI scans, setting a new standard for evidence-based health journalism. Pitches should include hard data alongside patient experiences.
Her drag therapy workshop coverage exemplifies interest in how marginalized communities develop coping mechanisms. Successful pitches highlight unique cultural perspectives, like her 2023 investigation into Inuit grief rituals influencing mainstream bereavement counseling.
While avoiding market speculation, Habib dissects wealth preservation techniques with sociological lenses. Her analysis of family office philanthropy trends included a 20-year comparison of charitable giving patterns across three generations.
"The most exciting development in therapeutic journalism since Oliver Sacks" - Canadian Mental Health Association, 2024 Media Excellence Citation
Habib's 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum keynote on "Drag as Diagnostic Tool" revolutionized conference programming, blending academic discourse with live performance art. The session's TikTok clips reached 2.3M viewers, demonstrating her digital-native approach to complex topics.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Health, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant: