Location: Everett
Welcome to Cedar Valley Counseling, I’m so glad you’re here. Whether this is your first inquiry for therapy, or returning to services, applaud yourself for taking this step. It is not always easy to advocate for ourselves and ask for support. My name is Maria and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who joined Cedar Valley Counseling in March of 2026. I graduated from the Leadership Institute of Seattle (LIOS) at Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. I have over 20 years’ experience working with an array of populations and settings including community mental health, Tribal behavioral health, Urban Indian outpatient mental health services, and domestic violence advocacy. I started my career as an intensive case manager providing daily support for older adults with chronic mental illness in a residential program. I have worked closely with chemical dependency professionals to provide wrap around services for those in recovery. My career has been dedicated to serving marginalized community members and I believe everyone has the right to access optimal care for their overall wellbeing.
Prior to joining Cedar Valley Counseling, I provided clinical supervision and psychotherapy in Indian Country including the Stillaguamish Tribe, Tulalip Tribes, and Seattle Indian Health Board. I primarily work with individuals 18 and up who are faced with challenges related to: depression, post-partum, grief and loss, divorce, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, abuse, domestic violence, mood disorder, or life transition. My approach to therapy is considered client-centered and my education provided me with a foundation in systems counseling. I strive to provide culturally sensitive therapeutic support in a safe and empowering space for self-discovery. With my training in systems counseling, we may explore your family background to understand the roots of your current relationship patterns, including the relationship with your authentic self. If you find yourself tangled in unhealthy patterns, or wanting to heal intergenerational trauma, I would be honored to walk alongside your journey.
My approach is eclectic, relying on a variety of modalities that best fit your needs. I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, mindfulness techniques, and frameworks from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I am trained in various therapeutic modalities including Motivational Interviewing (MI), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Lifespan Integration (LI), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). WA state has recognized me as an approved clinical supervisor, geriatric mental health specialist (GMHS) and ethnic minority mental health specialist (EMMHS) for the Native American/Alaskan Native population.
I was born and raised in Seattle with strong influences from my Native American and Deaf culture. I am a CODA (child of a deaf adult) and an enrolled member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada. When appropriate, or by request, I may share Native American perspective or traditional practices to promote spiritual self-care. My door is open to all backgrounds, and I am eager to learn about each person’s unique story. If you are interested in working together, please call our intake line at (425) 338-7589 to schedule an appointment.
