Meet Maria!

Positionality:
I identify as a Latinx bilingual cishet woman. I immigrated from Quito, Ecuador when I was 5 years old, and was raised in a bilingual household in metro-Atlanta ever since!  As a native Spanish speaker,  I can provide therapy in either or both languages based on the needs of my clients.
 
My Background & Approach:

I understand that the therapy process can feel intimidating and unapproachable, and it takes great courage to seek support from a stranger. My goal is to demystify and destigmatize the therapeutic journey so we can work together toward healing, growth, and self-discovery. In our time together, we’ll explore the challenges in your life and uncover the barriers that may be holding you back. You’ll be met with compassion, empathy, and curiosity as we co-create a therapeutic space that fully embraces your intersectional identities and empowers you to discover what you need to live as your most authentic self.
 

I believe deeply in the power of a collaborative, authentic, and empathetic therapeutic relationship to foster resilience and healing. Rather than seeing the therapist as an expert, I believe that you are the expert in your own experience. My role is to facilitate your growth, self-awareness, and healing by creating a nonjudgmental space where we can explore the roots of your struggles together. In this space, you can feel safe to delve deeply into what is holding you back and develop the tools to move forward.
 

I am particularly passionate about offering culturally responsive therapy that affirms and heals. I work to create spaces where BIPOC, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ clients can process and heal from intergenerational trauma, racial trauma, systemic racism, and other forms of oppression. My practice is grounded in an understanding of the complex impact that these forces have on mental health and well-being. Additionally, I value the privilege of working with men and those who identify as masculine, especially those who hold marginalized identities. Given the significant societal stigma around men's mental health and help-seeking, it has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my professional experience to support men on their journey to healing and emotional growth.
 

In our work together, you can expect a culturally affirming, inclusive, and empowering space where your unique experiences are honored, and where we work collaboratively toward the life you envision for yourself.

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Theoretical & Clinical Orientation:

Person-Centered w/ Humanistic and Existential Undertones: I work from a Person-Centered  the foundation that emphasizes authentic relationships, meeting clients where they are, and empowering them to create and reach their own goals. I also incorporate Humanistic and Existential theories as these orientations emphasize understanding a person as a whole: within relationships, within their struggles, within their upbringing, etc. The integration of these approaches enables me to view you as a whole person, not as a checklist of symptoms.

Attachment: Healthy attachments are the cornerstone of meaningful, fulfilling relationships. There is a quote that states, “you can’t move north 15 miles into the forest if you do not know what direction north is.”  I believe it is essential to explore where you have been (what your past relationships and attachments looked and felt like), so that we can determine what direction is your North. 

Culturally Affirming:  As an immigrant and Latinx woman, I understand the challenges that folx in my communities face on the daily. My practice is grounded in social justice and anti-oppression values and I utilize culturally-affirming and anti-racist practices that recognize the unique challenges experienced by racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities. Within my own therapeutic relationships with my clients, I also greatly value the strength that is added to our work when we name the shared similarities and the differences between our own lived experiences, including naming dynamics of power, privilege and oppression.

Credentials

• Licensed Associate Professional Counselor in Georgia (GA License No. APC008886)

• Working under the direction of Dr. Sophia Aguirre Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA and the supervision of Dr. Tyler Wilkinson, Ph.D.,  in pursuit of licensure as Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Georgia

 

Academic Training

• M.S. in Clinical Mental Health at Mercer University

• ​B.S. in Psychology at Kennesaw State University

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Professional Service & Membership

• American Counseling Association- ACA

• Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society

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