My Approach to Helping
Hello all! My name is Maria (shethey), and I am a pre-licensed professional counselor with a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. Philadelphia has been my home since 2017, and I am grateful to give back to the community by serving as a professional counselor. I specialize in supporting queer and genderqueer individuals, those in polyamorous and ENM relationships, neurodivergent individuals, and those struggling with anxiety, depression, body image, and positive self-regard.
My passion lies in working with the LGBTQ+ population as well as folks navigating identity development. Identity development encompasses a wide range of experiences, such as navigating relational-cultural concerns (ethnoracial identity, sexuality, gender, religion, etc.), but it also encompasses the growth journey in aligning our actions with our personal values. Through psychosomatic work, we can uncover and address these needs and values which in turn, allows us to foster healthier relationships with our internal and external world.
My approach is grounded in kindness and integrity while examining context from a multicultural and trauma-informed lens. I emphasize a “whole picture” mentality in the therapy space, meaning I work with you to connect the dots from past to present in order to better create a safe and fulfilling future. Should you choose to embark on the therapeutic journey with me, I am ready to listen, support, and empower for as long as you need.