Maria LaCreta, MA

Therapist

Coming into therapy can feel a bit daunting if you have never had access to or an opportunity to do so. I believe in meeting people where they are at. It is important for me to spend time getting to know who you are, and to create a safe and welcoming space to do that. Whatever it is that may bring you in; an immediate struggle with feeling overwhelmed, or from specific demands related to social, familial, work or school responsibilities, my hope is that this can be a space where you can feel empowered. Sometimes, this work is in remembering our strengths or identifying them for the first time. Other times it may be in gaining some dialogue or feedback on reevaluating your personal values. We can do this together. My work with you is to help you navigate the questions, challenges and difficulties together. No one should have to do it alone.
In terms of what you can expect, I work within many various forms of therapy. This might include sharing more skills-based therapy systems, such as; learning how to work on being present with mindfulness techniques, or to practice them within a session. It may also be about learning CBT and DBT, which both have a variety of usable tools to help intercept maladaptive habits, with new skills that you can practice and implement readily. Very often, I find that most people appreciate knowing there is a consistent, weekly space to vent or to utilize talk therapy to discuss current or ongoing stressors. This might look like transitions in life, issues around care taking, parenting, single parenting, divorce, distress, break-ups, insomnia/sleep, interpersonal conflict, grief/loss, women’s’ experiences, anxiety or depression. I also work with folks who struggle with complex medical conditions, oncology history, and/or who are in active cancer treatment, individuals with trauma history, PTSD, parenting struggles, whatever it may be that you are working on or through.
I believe in a collaborative, person-centered approach to working together, offering a judgement-free zone. Often, as an Expressive Arts Therapist, we also have the option to work in more non-traditional methods such as utilizing the creative arts in sessions, to use creativity or flexible thinking, to try and offer new ways of sitting with, moving through, or letting go of unwanted feelings, and cultivating what you want and need to move toward.
Therapy can also be about shorter term problem solving. Sometimes you may just feel like it’s been difficult to manage or balance it all. I offer an open, approachable environment, to help engage you with supportive care, and room to breathe.