Welcome! I’m Maura.
I specialize on the issues faced by women, kids/adolescents, and couples. Life can be absolutely overwhelming. Being in survival mode can get very old. Between the demands of work, school, managing a home, caring for children and being a good partner, it can become too much to handle alone.
By looking at your life through a broader lens, we can begin to create change so you can experience more out of your life than just surviving. I do my part by creating an accepting, non-judgmental space for you. I will help you identify and change negative thought patterns that don’t serve you and teach you healthy ways of communicating with your family.
Work Experience
I help women find themselves again – – whether that is by boundary-setting, grief and loss, self-exploration, better communication, empathic support or all of the above.
I understand the stress that women go through in today’s society with increasing expectations at work, home, and/or any role that holds high expectations with a lack of support.
My goal as a therapist is to get my clients to a place where they don’t feel like they are just ‘getting by’ or having to just get through their day. I want to build hope through active change and make my clients feel excited about life.
My previous work experience was in family therapy and crisis work. Prior to joining ITN, I was a clinical supervisor at a family-based services company.
Additionally, I have worked with crisis intervention which has helped me gather an understanding of trauma and traumatic events as well as how they impact day to day function.
Therapeutic Approach
I have experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which is primary modality. The reason I think this approach is so beneficial is due to the challenging, reframing, and restructuring our thought processes. If we can think differently, we can make different choices.
I find CBT to be helpful for clients who are getting in the way of their own change or who struggle with self-sabotaging behaviors.
I also have training and experience in using a modality know as Eco Systemic Family Therapy (ESFT). ESFT looks at treatment for children and families experiencing behavioral or relational challenges and is based on the theory that change in family structure contributes to change in behavior in the child.
This approach has taught me the importance of understanding and recognizing how relationships contribute to individual’s behavior. It has also taught me that family structure and order can play a big role in children’s behavioral changes.
I enjoy building a rapport with my clients to create a safe space to be open, honest, and comfortable. I strive to provide a nonjudgmental environment where my client’s feel completely free to express themselves without censorship.
Education
I graduated from Peters Township High School in 2013. I received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology at PennWest University in 2017 and completed my master’s in Mental Health Counseling at PennWest University. Additionally, I’ve completed over seven hundred hours of internship and practicum at Southwood Children’s Psychiatric Hospital before graduating in 2019. I have over four thousand hours of supervised work after graduation and am licensed by the state of Pennsylvania as of August, 2023.
Fun Facts About Me
I have a lot of different hobbies that I utilize as self-care, the first one is my rescue fur baby, Raven. I enjoy taking her on walks, to the dog park, and giving her a ton of cuddles.
A love of mine is being in nature – – whether it’s sitting outside, taking a walk, or driving with the windows down (and of course, loud music) on a nice day.
I enjoy thrifting, hanging out with my fiancé and friends, as well as going to the movies, concerts, and sports.
I’m very close with my parents and brother, as well as my nephew and two nieces and enjoy spending time with my family.
I love to encourage my clients to find the things they love and utilize it as self-care as life can be extremely demanding. Sometimes we have to be reminded to have fun!
Contact Me
Are you sick of just surviving? Is your child struggling and you’re not sure what to do? Are you tired of having the same arguments with your partner? Do you crave peace in your home? Do you want to feel empowered to make changes so you can live the life you always dreamed of?
The good news is that therapy works, and you don’t have to do it alone!
Take the first step to help. Please call me at (724) 503-6670 or email admin@inthenowcounseling.org if you have any questions or would like to get to know me a little better.