Maria Suarez · LCSW · Trauma Therapist
Real therapy for people who are tired of performing
I am Maria Suarez, a Puerto Rican therapist from the Bronx who now lives in Hawaii and works online with clients in Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, North Carolina, and South Carolina. I work with people whose nervous systems have been on alert for a long time and who are finally ready to stop carrying everything alone.
I also live with ADHD and a body that spent years in survival mode. I know what it is like to be the strong one, the helper, the one everybody leans on while your own system is exhausted. Therapy with me is not about fixing you. It is about giving your story and your body a place to land without being judged or told to just try harder.
My work is culturally responsive, LGBTQ affirming, and grounded in liberation. I pay attention to race, culture, class, gender, sexuality, and neurodivergence because those things shape how your nervous system learned to protect you. You do not have to translate your experience or make it smaller so I can understand it.
In session I am direct, warm, and honest. I will name patterns, ask real questions, and also respect your pacing. We can use humor, metaphors, and the occasional Bronx energy when it helps. You do not have to come in with a perfect story or a clear treatment plan. You just have to show up as you are.
How I work with trauma, identity, and your nervous system
I combine relational therapy with body based trauma work. That can include EMDR, Brainspotting, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy when it fits. We slow things down so your system has a chance to feel safe enough to actually process what happened, instead of just talking it to death.
Sessions are collaborative and human. Some days you may come in organized and ready. Other days you may arrive scattered, numb, or in a spiral. All of that is welcome. We follow what your body and story are doing that day and build regulation from there.
I am not a blank wall therapist. I will respond, reflect, and give you feedback when you want it. I will also respect your no and your limits. We set goals together so therapy feels like support, not another performance review.
People I love working with
Adults whose lives have carried more than they were ever meant to hold. People who have done crisis mode for so long that rest feels dangerous. People who grew up fast and never got to stop.
Neurodivergent adults with ADHD, autistic traits, sensory sensitivity, and big inner worlds. Therapists, nurses, social workers, doctors, and first responders who are tired of being the strong one in every room. BIPOC and LGBTQ clients who want a therapist who will talk about culture and identity directly.
I also work with people moving through perinatal and reproductive seasons, survivors of exploitation and trafficking, and helpers who are trying to stay human inside systems that are not always humane.
Licensure and training
Licensure
Hawaii Licensed Clinical Social Worker License number: 55057
Arizona Licensed Clinical Social Worker License number: 20753
Washington Licensed Clinical Social Worker License number: LW60858423
North Carolina Licensed Clinical Social Worker License number: C018196
South Carolina Licensed Master Social Worker License number: 17838
Education and advanced training
Master of Social Work, Fordham University.
Training in EMDR for trauma, anxiety, and long term stress patterns.
Brainspotting training for body based processing of overwhelming experiences.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) training for image based trauma work and rapid relief when your system is stuck on repeat.
If you are tired of holding it together alone, we can start here
You do not need a perfect script or a detailed treatment plan. If your body, your brain, or your story feels seen in any part of this page, that is enough to reach out. We can figure out the rest together.
I review every message myself and will let you know if I am a good fit or help you find next steps.