About Maria

I’ve always been drawn to the question of what it means to be human. Even as a kid, I felt things deeply and asked big questions—and I often found myself listening to others and helping them make sense of what they were feeling too. From a young age, creativity was also one of my deepest refuges. Music and writing offered me solace and a way to process emotions I didn’t yet have words for. That curiosity, compassion, and creativity eventually led me into teaching, where I spent over a decade helping students find their voices through writing, musical theatre, and creative expression.

While teaching, I was also navigating my own inner world—living with anxiety, depression, and a lingering sense of disconnection I couldn’t quite name. I tried both therapy and medication with limited success. That shifted in 2010, when I attended a mindfulness retreat that opened me up to a new way of being. I realized that healing wasn’t just about managing thoughts or emotions—it was about reconnecting with myself and the world around me. As I began to notice the profound benefits mindfulness brought to my life, I couldn’t help but ask: Why aren’t we teaching this in schools? This question sparked a shift in my career.

From there, everything began to realign in my life and work. I completed a mindfulness certification and began offering mindfulness-based programming to both students and staff. The positive impact was clear—people were finding more clarity, focus, and emotional regulation. This work deepened my commitment to supporting mental health, which eventually led me to pursue a Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality (MPS)—a counselling degree that integrated mental health training with reflection on meaning, identity, and the whole person—as well as my Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) designation to formalize my role as a mental health professional.

During my MPS studies, I came to realize that my creative practices—particularly writing, music, and later visual art—had always been a form of self-therapy, helping me process emotions and experiences long before I had even heard of Expressive Arts Therapy. Over time, my creative process also expanded into visual arts, becoming a meaningful way to explore healing through non-verbal expression. These practices now sit at the heart of the work I offer to others.

Today, I bring together mindfulness, creative expression, and trauma-informed care in a way that honours the full complexity of being human. I draw from therapeutic approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Expressive Arts Therapy, and I approach all of my work through a spiritually-integrated, person-centered lens.

I believe true healing is never one-size-fits-all—it’s layered, unique to each individual, and deeply human. Whether I’m offering counselling, coaching, or group experiences, I’m here to walk alongside people as they reconnect with themselves—moving toward a more grounded, meaningful, and authentic life.