Transformative Bonds

Maria has been practicing therapy for 9 years, specializing in family therapy, trauma, and attachment. She has experience in a variety of settings and uses techniques including but not limited to, EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, Dialectical behavioral therapy, Internal Family Systems, Theraplay, and attachment-based therapy. She also has extensive training on adoption/trauma issues and has expertise in developmental trauma and complex PTSD. Maria is also passionate about working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families who have been impacted by incarceration and institutionalization. She has testified as an expert witness in both delinquency, dependency, and criminal matters. Her unique experience working in a court setting has given her the tools to see how larger systems can create more stressors, and her non-judgemental approach offers people a safe and secure setting to help process the emotions that come with system involvement. On a larger level, Maria practices from an abolitionist framework. She is keenly aware that involvement in the larger systems can cause additional trauma, and she is dedicated to building alternatives based on justice, equity, and community support. Maria seeks to transform mental health care into a field based on restorative and trauma-responsive practice, repairing bonds between individuals, families, and communities Maria believes in an eclectic approach to therapy, meeting a person where they are at in life, and using their strengths to assist with their personal growth. Maria sees herself as a guide to show people the tools to resolve the problems that keep them stuck. She focuses on providing a safe space, empowering a person to heal from the past, and creating a new normal.