Maria Dodds, MS, LAC is a compassionate and skilled Licensed Associate Counselor at the Center for NeuroWellness. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Maria offers psychotherapy to individuals facing various diagnoses and difficulties.

Maria’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Kean University and Rutgers University. She then gained valuable experience working for seven years at a non-profit community mental health agency, where she provided community support services to individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Her dedication helped these individuals recover and live fulfilling lives.

To further enhance her expertise, Maria pursued a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rutgers University. Prior to joining our team, she worked as a trilingual Outpatient Clinician at a non-profit organization, providing counseling services to individuals dealing with addiction and mental health challenges.

Maria has received specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Beck Institute. This training equips her to address a wide range of issues, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders, trauma, aggression, and self-injury. Additionally, she incorporates Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) into her practice. However, Maria’s primary focus is on providing a person-centered approach that inspires hope and healing, empowering individuals to live their best lives.

Outside of her professional life, Maria enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends, and her rescue dog, Joey.