Maria Gentile, LCSW, MSW

I believe therapy is a place where you can feel heard, understood, and supported without judgment. My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and strengths-based. I meet each person where they are while helping them better understand their emotions, experiences, relationships, and the patterns that may be keeping them from moving forward. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families navigating anxiety, grief and loss, family and relationship challenges, parenting concerns, life transitions, emotional regulation, and self-esteem. I also have experience supporting survivors of domestic violence and individuals who have experienced difficult or traumatic life events. When working with children and adolescents, I believe in creating a safe and engaging environment where they can express themselves in ways that feel natural to them. I do not believe children should be pressured to talk before they are ready. Through conversation, creative activities, movement, visual tools, and other age-appropriate approaches, I help them develop the language and skills to better understand and express their emotions. I also value collaborating with parents and caregivers when appropriate because meaningful and lasting change often extends beyond the therapy room. Whether I am working with a child, an adult, or a family, my goal is to create a space where you can feel supported while developing practical tools to move forward and write your next chapter.

At Write Your Own Chapter LLC, I combine clinical experience with creative and supportive tools to help children, teens, adults, and families heal and grow. Sessions may incorporate art, journaling, play, mindfulness, movement, or other developmentally appropriate activities designed to support emotional expression, self-awareness, and healthy coping skills. I offer individual and family therapy and may offer therapeutic groups based on availability. My work focuses on helping clients better understand their emotions, strengthen communication, navigate life transitions and relationships, and develop practical tools they can use outside of the therapy room. As a bilingual therapist providing services in English and Spanish, I welcome clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and strive to create a safe, compassionate, and respectful space where each person’s experiences and strengths are valued.