About Maria S. White, LCSW, LCAS, RYT500

I am a 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. My primary focus is with EMDR to process & heal from unprocessed trauma. In March of 2020, I completed a 40-hr. training for EMDR (eye movement, desensitization, & reprocessing) to further my somatic interventions for healing from trauma.

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.

As of 04-14-24, I am trained in the use of image based projective techniques with Tarot to help you access & activate your internal resources & intuition when you may be blocked. I am currently exploring Sound Healing Certification and Integrative Hypnosis for techniques to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve sleep. 

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:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Processing Trauma

• Communication skislls, including Imago techniques

• Navigating Life Transitions

• Substance Use and Addictions through Grief work

• Managing anger, emotional reactivity, distress, interpersonal effectiveness: DBT

• Managing Chronic Pain

• LGBTQ friendly