About Maria S. White, LCSW, LCAS, RYT500

I am a seventh generation native of Hendersonville, NC and have deep roots in our community. Sometimes I feel that is one of the best gifts I offer my clients: stability of treatment and not having to tell your story to new people over and over.

I began my career in 1991 working in the foster care system and parenting education programs with my bachelors of social work degree. In my 40’s, I decided I wanted to be able to help my clients further, so I embarked on getting my Master’s degree in Social Work. That led to me working in a domestic violence shelter for a few years while I achieved my clinical social work license. It was at the shelter that I realized that substance use is often paired with trauma and mental health issues.

My path then took me to work toward my substance use counseling license, and for the next 6 years, I worked at a clinic for dual disorders of mental health and addiction. I started my own therapy practice, Resilient Journeys, in April 2012. 

In March of 2020, I completed a 40-hr. training for EMDR (eye movement, desensitization, & reprocessing) for healing from trauma. In the Fall of 2025, I had further training in Natural Flow EMDR, also known as Brain Spotting.

As of 04-14-24, I am trained in the use of image based projective techniques with Tarot to help you access and activate your internal resources and intuition when you may be blocked. 

I am also a yoga therapist (Subtle Yoga 500 hrs.-initially trained in June 2016 and completed additional hours of training in September 2019). These techniques are trauma informed that utilize yoga (chair and mat) for learning how to calm your nervous system to have a better connection between your body and mind, relieve chronic pain, and support emotional and physical healing.

In my Somatic offerings, this often includes Sound Healing, which uses resonant tones and vibrations to calm the nervous system, lower stress hormones like cortisol, and shift brain waves into deeply meditative states. Key health benefits include reduced tension and anxiety, improved sleep quality, relief from chronic physical pain, and enhanced cognitive function.

On 07-03-26, I completed my first level of training in Internal Family Systems (IFS). 

I am scheduled to complete my second level of IFS on 12-16-26.  Through IFS, the intention is to help you connect with your core Self and then create a compassionate relationship with different parts of your personality to allow for healing, unburdening of trauma, and integration of past experiences.

So, you may see a pattern here. I am always trying to find better and more effective ways to support resiliency and change for people to have happier lives.

My specialty areas include therapy for:

• Processing Trauma through EMDR & IFS
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Communication skills, including Imago techniques
• Navigating Life Transitions
• Substance Use and Addictions through Grief work
• Anger (& other strong emotions) Management with DBT skills 
• Managing Chronic Pain
• LGBTQ ally