María went to the University of Miami and earned a bachelor’s in Psychology in 1995. After working for four years she went to Florida State University and earned a master’s in Social Work in 2001. She obtained her license as a Clinical Social Worker in 2009 and she became a Qualified Supervisor for Social Work Interns in 2020.
María has experience working with children and families in the foster care system as a case manager and a therapist.
María has also worked with nonprofit agencies where she provided community and outpatient therapeutic services. She provided support to families and their children, teens, and adults using a strengths, environment, and person-centered approach. She used Solution Focus Therapy, Play Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
After working at the nonprofit agency for eight years Maria worked at a catholic school in Tampa. She developed the social work program. She provided individual and group therapy as needed and implemented the Positive Behavior Support Program from the University of South Florida for children ages three to five years old. She developed plans to help the teachers and parents support their children’s executive, developmental, and social-emotional growth.
After five years María returned to working at a nonprofit agency with families and children ages two to five years old at their homes and in their schools. She continued to use Positive Behavior Support and also used Conscious Discipline, Trust Base Relational Intervention, behavioral, and trauma strategies to support teacher and parents in strengthening their relationship with their children, increasing communication and problem solving skills, and encouraging positive behaviors.
To schedule an appointment with María, please contact us.