Maria Caspani MS.Ed.; MHC-LP

Whether you’re grieving the passing of a loved one, a beloved pet, a job or dealing with other kinds of loss, I am here to help you process it and cope with it in healthy ways. Grief and loss can leave us changed, but it doesn't have to be for the worst. They can be deeply enriching experiencing that lead to greater understanding of ourselves and new perspectives in the way we see the world and ourselves. So let's talk about it, let's bring it out into the open.

I have experience in psychosocial oncology and in helping individuals coping with chronic illness, mainly cancer. As your therapist, I welcome you as you are. My approach is non-judgmental and warm, curious, and accepting. I know that your cancer journey can leave you feeling lonely, isolated, unheard and poorly or rarely understood. It can feel like it's yours alone. I strive to be a steady presence as you take step after courageous step along your path.

The idea of peeling back the layers and seeing ourselves more clearly, the unconscious to conscious process of self-discovery is what draws me to psychodynamic approaches. Far from static, psychodynamic theories continue to evolve, exploring new paths into understanding of personality. I pay close attention to the client's relational patterns, using the therapeutic bond as a mirror and a clue into the individual's interpersonal relationships.

I firmly believe in Carl Rogers' emphasis on the bond between a therapist and their client. A trusting, accepting and empathic therapeutic alliance is the most essential component of any therapeutic journey. Our time together provides a judgment-free zone, a space that is yours only where one can feel heard and seen unconditionally.

ACT represents a firmly evidence-based fusion of some of what I believe are key tenets of psychotherapy. It blends a profound understanding of the human condition with cognitive behavioral approaches that promote an understanding of our individuality in all its magnificently flawed aspects. Promoting acceptance can perhaps feel simplistic at first, but it constitutes a difficult and radical act of self-love necessary to positive change.

As a former journalist, I have an expert understanding of vicarious trauma and the various psychological hazards that come with high-pressure jobs.