More about maria

I have been an Occupational Therapist for over 25 years and an Integrative OT for 10 years.

I received certification and the majority of my mindfulness training through the Mindful Schools Year Long Certification Program, as well as through numerous OT Continuing Ed courses and Retreats pertaining to this subject area, including a (MBSR) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course for Professionals and a Training Intensive on the Learning to Breathe (L2B) Mindfulness Program for Adolescents. I am a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and I incorporate mindful movement in my OT therapy sessions and training programs, both at KidTherapy and eZential Wellness Center.  

My three sons are now young adults.  They've navigated the teenage terrain and have, not surprisingly, discovered that the mindfulness skills they learned in their youth are needed even more now, as they face challenging decisions, greater responsibilities, new experiences, and more school/work/life transitions,.

Looking back, when we were in the midst of adolescence, I saw the immediate value of sharing mindfulness with teenagers.  As we all know, from having experienced this challenging time of life ourselves, there are many stressors; however, in today's technology filled world the teens of today are under a microscope every day...competing, comparing, judging, being judged, worrying, and expecting/accepting nothing less than perfection from themselves and others. Many have little compassion for themselves and, therefore, are challenged to offer kindness and compassion to others.  It is, truly, a tumultuous time of life, which is why I believe in being PROACTIVE by teaching kids and teens skillful ways to navigate the inevitable storms of youth and adolescence.

My sons, like most teens, worked hard to manage their busy schedules with challenging course loads and highly competitive sports (football, lacrosse, swim, and basketball).  I wanted to be confident that I provided them with all the skills necessary to navigate life's challenges when they embarked on college and their careers; therefore, mindfulness has been, and will always be, an important part of our lives.  

I am passionate about sharing these same skills with all the kids, teens and adults with whom I have the pleasure of working.  I look forward to collaborating with you, too!​