You’re no good for others, if you’re no good to yourself.
What is therapy & how do I know if it is right for me?
When we are mentally healthy, we are able to reach our full potential, think more clearly while making meaningful contributions to the communities we care about, and we are able to genuinely connect with the people in our lives. Therapy is one tool to help us manage our mental health and may be especially worthwhile if your regular ways of coping are not producing an overall positive impact on your mental health. Therapy can be beneficial for a wide range of problems including mood concerns like depression and anxiety, relationship conflicts, and/or experiencing difficult life transitions. Regardless of what brings you to therapy, it can be an opportunity to learn, grow, and heal. It is always a good time for therapy. Let’s connect.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy sessions provide a brave and safe space for you to express yourself and explore personal barriers that are preventing you from living the life you desire. My goal is to help clients heal by processing and unpacking complex and difficult experiences or relationships, so they can gain more clarity about their behavior patterns, feelings, thoughts, and in turn, make intentional choices about their future.
Currently, both in-person and online options are available.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy can often strengthen a relationship at any stage. It helps couples resolve conflict, integrate past experiences, and build trust and vulnerability.
An initial assessment of the couple’s issues is required prior to any service delivery.
Group Therapy
Many underestimate the benefits and power of group therapy as it can be an excellent option for some individuals. Group therapy allows individuals to develop increased self-awareness in a supportive environment by listening to others with similar issues. This can be especially beneficial for people who struggle to express what they are experiencing or feel isolated because of their experiences; it is not unusual in group therapy to find people describing a feeling or situation you have experienced, but perhaps have struggled to put into words and communicate. This format assures individuals that they are not alone and is often in itself therapeutic.
A pre-group screening and initial assessment are required prior to participant in any therapy group.
OTHER SERVICES
Guest Speaker
Gaining relevant working knowledge about mental wellness is important for any individual or organization. I enjoy the opportunity to educate an audience of any size. I have presented at numerous events on many topics including Stress Management, The Impact of Trauma and Abuse, Managing Mental Illness in The Workplace and Churches, and Culturally Sensitive Leadership. I have served as an expert mental health panelist to facilitating professional development trainings.
If you are interested in having me as a guest speaker, lecturer, or to host your next workshop, please email me at hello@thedrmaria.com for further details.
Consultant
As a psychology consultant, I am able to utilize specialized knowledge and experience to provide a professional opinion, advice, assist others in problem-solving or setting up services. I have served as a consultant for numerous state and non-profit organizations, where I have provided expertise in mental health, curriculum development, cultural and diversity issues, clinical services advisement, and conducted program evaluations.
If you have a need for a professional consultation, please feel free to email me at hello@thedrmaria.com for more information.
Service Fees
Please note that currently I am only accepting self-pay clients. This option may be most beneficial for some while others prefer to use their insurance, and I respect both. I encourage you to find out the details of your insurance as it relates to mental health services. For example, all insurance companies mandate that the individual seeking therapy obtain a diagnosis by a therapist. This is to ensure your insurance company can determine whether or not therapy is "medically necessary" for you. If they determine that it is not, then they will not pay for your services.
They may limit your coverage to a set number of therapy sessions per year, regardless of what you may be going through.
Other things to consider are timing, long-term costs, and availability. It is often that your insurance provider may require you to meet a deductible before covering any of the cost, keep in mind that meeting the deductible can take some time. If you have a set number of sessions and a high deductible, using your insurance may not be the most cost-effective option long-term.
Above all, you are limited to therapists/psychologist that are only within your network so finding the "right fit" may prove to be even more challenging at times.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.