Mariah Rodriguez-Reopelle, MSW, LICSW (she/her)
Life is full of demands and stressors that may leave you feeling exhausted and uncertain about who you are or how you are supposed to fit in a place that constantly seems to meet you with shame and judgement. When working with me, I actively seek to create a space that honors your neurodivergence and uniqueness. As a neurodivergent individual myself, I am all too familiar with how ableism and neurotypical structures can become overwhelming leaving you with a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness. I am here to show you that you deserve to have a reliable and dedicated space where you don't have to mask, explain yourself, or pretend to be someone else.
Though I do strive to ensure that my work is individualized and adjusted to what is needed in that moment, one thing that will not change are the values that design my practice including: honesty, authenticity, and being a teammate. Using experiential methods, I seek to support those I'm working with at their pace within lived action and self-exploration. I encourage sessions to be a time where you and/or your child can lean into their special interests and creativity as a channel towards better understanding themselves and the world around them.
My therapeutic interventions often incorporate mindfulness and body-centered therapy to promote connection between body and mind. I find this to be essential as we are unable to learn unless our body feels safe, therefore, it is our job to explore what we need and what it looks like when we are safe and secure within ourselves and the relationships around us. In this exploration, I may incorporate sand tray or play therapy, especially for those who find it difficult to use mouth words during times of greater stress. Regardless of what intervention I utilize, I am always striving to remain trauma-informed and neurodivergent affirmative. I seek to empower others and guide them towards a confidence that allows unapologetic authenticity and self-love.
When I'm not working, I am often playing video games, spending time with my dog and husband, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, and stimming to some music while trying to keep my plants alive. I love being outdoors and finding creative ways to repurpose things that others may more readily get rid of.
Specialties: Neurodivergent affirmative approach, ASD, ADHD, Low Demand Parenting, 0-5 trained, trauma with kids 0-8, trauma with older teens/early adulthood 17-40, anxiety, sensory processing differences, attachment/relationships, and sandtray therapy
