LCSW, 7 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi there! My name is Maria, I am a licensed therapist in Florida, but I travel/live between Florida and Nebraska, so that means I get to enjoy the beaches and the beautiful snow. I enjoy exercising, learning about healthy foods, dancing, karaoke (although, I don't have the most beautiful voice), I love family time, and cooking for my family. I have 7 years of experience in mental health, I am mostly passionate about childhood adversities that transform into adulthood unresolved trauma, addictions, depression, anxiety, mood disorders. I believe healing childhood wounds can clear the path for a happier and healthier adult life, and with the right therapist and treatment methods I believe it is something you can achieve. Healing is a gift to pass down to your generations, and it transforms into emotional wealth. I look forward to hearing from you!
In our first session you can expect us getting to know each other better, you'll be able to see if my style of listening, and providing feedback feels beneficial to you. I will also be able to witness details about your life, your environments, and past history.
What stands out about me as a therapist, is my ability to listen and provide you with comfortable silence that allows you think and put your feelings and thoughts in order, so that you can express them accurately, and then we can process them together. I won't rush you to tell me more. I also take careful consideration in which therapeutic approach will best suit you, and educate you on why I believe you will benefit from my treatment recommendation. I value my client's input in their treatment plan, as I believe that is a crucial part in long term mental health wellness.
If you are someone that has struggled with depression and anxiety, and can't really pinpoint why those feelings are coming up, but when you sit down and think about your life, you can definitely identify that your childhood or teenage years were hard, you might have unresolved trauma that has triggered symptoms of depression and anxiety. if this sounds like you, lets talk and see what treatment approach will work best for you. If you are someone that finds themselves constantly feeling irritable, "out of place" in life, or simply feeling not "good enough", please know that you are not alone, and these feelings are common in those that struggle with mental health disorders. Identifying where these feelings, ideas, and feelings come from, helps a great deal in learning how to cope with those difficult feelings and thoughts.
Focusing on the positive instead of the negative qualities the client processes in order to build confidence and achieve different perspectives that enhance positive thinking and self perception.
Relationships in early childhood shape our interaction with others as we enter teenage year, and early adulthood. I like to look back at the beginning of these social interactions to identify unhealthy habits that need attention in order to build on a healthier phase of life.
I will mostly use this treatment method when working on improving and strengthening the relationship between parent and child. This method focuses on listening to each individual separately, and then coming together, to create mutual respect and a bond that allows both individuals to feel heard, understood, and loved.
This treatment method also includes the support of both parent and child, and the ultimate goal is to educate the parent and child on the "ins and outs" of trauma, and how both can learn to cope with the symptoms of trauma.
Using CBT is an effective method I like to use with my clients experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and some personality disorders. It's an effective method that helps reshape and improve the way you think which leads to positive behaviour and a positive day to day life.