Hi, I’m Maria! Thanks for taking the time to view my profile. My friends call me the “accountability” friend. I enjoy helping people meet their goals. I started working in this profession as a one-on-one worker with an Intellectual Developmental youth and family in 1997. Throughout the years I’ve continued my education and became a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in 2019 and a Licensed Certified Addiction Specialist (LCAS) in 2021 after extensive clinical work in an outpatient substance use clinic in North Carolina.
It’s all about you! We will start with introductions, review your reason(s) to seek therapy (great job to you!), and discuss your goals in therapy. You are the driver for the session and I'm the steering wheel. Let’s find ways together to improve your quality of life through therapeutic self-managements tools, stress management, and self-care!
One of my greatest strengths is keeping you accountable to yourself. Sometimes as humans we become consumed with what we have to do for others and what we want others to do. However, we must be accountable to ourselves and our own well-being. In order to care for others we have to take care of ourselves. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup.
Anyone ready to discover themselves, heal, and make therapeutic change towards quality living. I prefer to work with adults age 20+, but have an extensive background working with youth and adolescents.
I have provided therapeutic treatment services to youth and adults with mild to severe mental health and substance abuse disorders. I primarily utilize the treatment modality of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In the use of CBT, I apply therapeutic interventions of role-play, psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring activities, and mindfulness techniques. Other treatment modalities used include, but not limited to, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Person-Centered Therapy (PCT).