Dr. Maria Niitepold

Licensed Psychologist

I decided to become a psychologist after my own challenges with trauma, narcissistic family members, serving in the Marine Corps, and struggling with identity, meaning fitting in as an immigrant who came to the US from a young age and also as a member of the LGBTQ community. I found some therapy to be helpful for ongoing challenges, but I really wanted to heal instead of being dependent on my therapist. I eventually found my way to the therapy that allowed me to resolve the challenges that I was having and felt so grateful that I wanted to learn how to offer the same healing to other people.

The Body Keeps the Score. I know, I know, so typical. And I know there's controversy about how accurate all the claims are, but still, I got to meet Bessel van der Kolk in person at the International Trauma Conference one day years ago and surprised MYSELF by crying when I saw him. That book made me go "a-ha!" and from then on, I was set on becoming a psychologist who treats trauma.

One thing that clients often struggle with at the onset of therapy is how uncomfortable or vulnerable it will feel at times. I get it - been there, done that. And one thing that helped me through it when I worked relentlessly with my own therapist years ago was remembering that I could either suffer through the discomfort in therapy...or I could keep dealing with the same patterns, beliefs, and strong emotions that made me suffer outside of therapy. Time will pass and we will go through discomfort either way. We might as well lean into the discomfort that will get us where we want to go.