Maria received her MA, EdM in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University, Teachers College. She has over 12 years of experience in the mental health field, and has worked in a number of clinical settings, including residential, in-home, partial-care, and outpatient. Maria’s professional orientation is humanistic and relational. She utilizes a person-centered, multicultural, and eclectic approach to help the youth and families she serves. Maria has experience working with issues around complex trauma, anger management, anxiety, developmental disabilities (ASD) and acculturation issues. She also has experience in individual, group and family therapy. Maria has experience with play and art therapy, and is certified in the Nurtured Heart Approach. Maria is an avid reader, loves art, animals, watching sports, traveling, cooking, and running in her free time.