Sentinel Mental Wellness Center
Maria O'Tuel, PsyD
maria@sentinelmwc.com
About Dr. Maria
Life can be hard at best. Still, it is my desire that you flourish in your life, and sometimes counseling is a wise path to pursue to help heal a broken heart, address life’s challenges, or improve relationships.
I want to tailor counseling to your goals and needs.
Counseling has many facets: healing from past and present pain, improving relationship, exploring one’s self, taking responsibility, changing as needed, growing, finding solutions to challenges, and developing hope for the future plus tools to succeed there.
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It is important to me that therapy provides a comfortable, pleasant, gracious, and non-judgmental atmosphere useful to healing and growth.
I believe therapy takes much courage, and I continue to be humbled as each person shares their life and story with me in counseling. I consider it an honor and seek to value what is entrusted to me.
As early as my teen years, I had an interest in improving human relationships, and I began devouring books on that topic. I also noticed I had a propensity to “weep with those who weep” and felt comfortable coming alongside those in trials and experiencing emotional pain.
We all have different gifts and interests, and those were mine. Ultimately, I decided to make counseling my life work, and I graduated from Nova Southeastern University with my Doctorate of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) about 25 years ago.
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I have had the pleasure of providing psychological services to clients from one to 99 years of age. I welcome people from all backgrounds. I have always enjoyed people from various cultures all over the world, even prior to my experience in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.
For refreshment outside the office, I often turn to a transparent friend, a meaningful book, or respond to the call of the wilderness and relish the outdoors, especially the mountains, plus animals (notably pursuing my lifelong interest in horses).
Areas of Practice
I am considered a generalist with a wide range of clinical expertise from individual, child, and couples therapy to effective parenting to geriatric issues, plus the forensic evaluation of child abuse and related court testimony. I implement a relational, holistic approach to treatment.
I utilize Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), akin to EMDR, for the amazingly effective and swift treatment of trauma.
I also enjoy parent training and reinforcing the valuable, but challenging, opportunity of parents to rear well the children entrusted to them.
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Counseling often involves “homework” to encourage growth and the application of therapeutic progress. I sincerely enjoy coming alongside people as they find their identity as overcomers and conquerors through their trials.
I also enjoy incorporating Biblical counseling upon request.
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– Serves individual adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families.
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– Specializes in treating mood problems and those who are struggling with relationships, couples/marital issues, life transitions, parenting issues, family/stepfamily dynamics, emotional abuse, domestic conflict, trauma, codependency, and concerns of the elderly. Also addresses communication skills, social skills, self-image, and faith issues.
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– Utilizes Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for trauma, attachment theory, Biblical Counseling, Couples Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), multiple parenting approaches, plus various therapeutic interventions that seek to heal core issues behind people’s presenting problems and pain.
Top Specialties
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Assessment and Evaluation
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Parenting
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Relationship Issues
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Trauma and PTSD
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Expertise
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Anxiety
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Attachment
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Child
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Coping Skills
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Depression
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Divorce
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Domestic Violence
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Dual Diagnosis
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Elderly Persons Disorders
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Emotional Disturbance
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Family Conflict
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Forensic Evaluation
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Grief
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Life Transitions
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Marital and Premarital
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Men's Issues
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Mood Disorders
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Peer Relationships
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Personality Disorders
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School Issues
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Self Esteem
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Stress
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Women's Issues
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