Maria cofounded Life Stages Counseling in 2004 with her colleague, Leslie Shakespeare. Maria
is the mother of three grown daughters, and feels that parenthood along the different
developmental stages has contributed to her ability to show empathy and understanding to a host
of different client populations.

Maria holds a strength~ based philosophy and focus on the belief that people innately know
what they need to feel whole and healthy. Assisting them on this journey towards mental health
and balance through person-centered therapy is the key to her work with her clients, and part of
the mission of Life Stages Counseling.  Maria has specialized in child, adolescent, and adult
therapy, and is currently focusing mostly with college students, young adults, and adults
experiencing anxiety or depression. Specific areas of interest include life transitions, managing
stress, work/life balance, building esteem and growth within, and finding optimum functioning
wherever one finds themselves on their journey.

Maria grew up in a small community close to Ithaca and has lived in Ithaca since 1997. Maria
has over twenty years of experience in clinical social work. Maria graduated from St.
Bonaventure University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1994, and from Marywood
University with a master’s degree in 1996. Maria worked for the Franziska Racker Centers for
six years, both providing social work services in their preschool classrooms for children with
special needs and providing play therapy to preschool children. Maria also co-directed the
Family Resolution Project through the Racker Centers, and affiliated with the Department of
Social Services, to assist families who had open cases in the child protective unit in strength-
based care planning for their children. Maria facilitated a support group for foster and adoptive
parents through the Department of Social Services also during this time. Maria has her
Certificate in School Social Work and has worked both as an elementary school social worker in
the Ithaca City School District, and as a middle and high school social worker in the Spencer Van
Etten School District. Maria also contracted with the state of New York Tompkins County Early
Intervention Program, and with the Committees on Preschool Special Education in surrounding
school districts to provide play therapy and family counseling services to children within these
two programs.

Maria believes that people innately know what they need to feel whole and healthy. Therapeutic
support offers people an arena to search for their own answers with gentle guidance and clarity.
This support can strengthen both skills sets and feeling of ownership and confidence in ability to
care for oneself. Maria's therapeutic philosophy is a strength-based, person centered approach to
well-being and mental health. Maria also engages Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies with
clients to help them manage depression and anxiety symptoms.

Email: [email protected]