Maria "Maggie" Orona LPC-S, RPT-S *Limited Availability*

  "You never know how strong your are until BEING STRONG is the only choice you have."

Life is a challenge. Life comes with complicated changes no matter if you are a child, tween, teenager, or adult. All the challenges and changes in life can sometimes feel overwhelming and can often lead to feeling isolated, anxious, and/or depressed. You are not alone. 

My approach to counseling is to provide therapeutic services in a safe, confidential, and empowering environment. I honor the courage it takes to come in for the first session and so I allow my clients the space they need to work through the counseling process at their own pace. I hold a deep trust in the counseling process and strongly believe that emotional healing for each individual emerges on its own. I truly trust that the process will reveal the right fit for each individual. Because everyone copes and communicates differently, my therapeutic approach begins by meeting my clients where they are in their emotional distress and throughout the counseling process I follow my clients’ lead in determining how best to help them.

My therapeutic philosophy is eclectic and holistic. One’s past experiences, current struggles, and future hopes are integrated throughout the counseling process. I take into account all aspects of my client’s life: mind, body, spirit, and soul. My goal is to help my clients attain a genuine, authentic, and deep sense of internal peace. I integrate a variety of therapy modalities and counseling methods such as play therapy, sandtray therapy, and expressive arts alongside traditional talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and solution focused therapy. Treatment planning and treatment goals are mutually agreed upon and may change throughout the counseling process. My goal is to be a healing agent so that my clients can free themselves from self-limiting thoughts and harmful patterns. My hope is that each client who works on his/her healing process achieves a deeper sense of emotional fulfillment, healthy self-awareness and emotional stability. I am honored to be a part of my clients’ personal journey as they find their voice, achieve personal fulfillment and embrace self-compassion. 

As one of the founding partners of Family Connections Counseling and having been in private practice for almost twenty years I continue to work diligently to expand my own skills and training to assure healthy professional development within the counseling profession. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Texas State Board Approved Supervisor (LPC-S, License# 17491) as well as a Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor (RPT-S). I love mentoring and supervising new counseling interns as they complete the 3,000 hours required by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.  

I hold a Master’s Degree of Education in Counseling from the University of North Texas, a Master’s Degree of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Counseling from the University of North Texas. 

When I’m not in the office assisting others in their healing process I make time to engage in my own self-care. I enjoy traveling to visit family and friends, attending music and sporting events, watching movies, and giving back to the community. Having fun, playing, and relaxing are often times overlooked in our daily life. Life is hard…I believe in making time for some fun and relaxation. It’s important to obtain a sense of balance in our lives.

morona@familyconnectionscounseling.com