For the past two decades, AnaMaria has immersed herself in understanding the obstacles and facilitators of wellbeing for the gifted, twice exceptional (2e), and neurodivergent. AnaMaria has sought interdisciplinary training as she recognized that the traditional training mental health professionals receive is limited in addressing the whole gifted, 2e and neurodivergent person. 

AnaMaria works from a holistic and decolonial lens (unpacking the systemic barriers to autonomy and thriving, and self-defeating beliefs). She has training in a range of models including liberation psychology, narrative therapy, internal family systems (IFS), insight-oriented psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); yoga/qigong and awareness-based practices.

Specific to the needs of the 2e and neurodivergent client, AnaMaria’s work is most influenced by social learning models such as Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Social Thinking and Social Stories; emotional intelligence models such as Six Seconds; and sensory integration such as Zones of Regulation.  She has also completed training on multiple intervention models such as Integrated Peer Playgroups, Early Start Denver Model, Social Communication Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support (SCERTS) Model, Social Thinking with Michelle Garcia-Winner, Sensory Processing & Integration (under direct learning from Occupational Therapists such as Judy Crosariol, OTR/L).

Her most rewarding experience has been that many clients have contacted her after therapy to share their excitement about their improved quality of life. They report that the tools they learned and practiced in therapy improved their independent ability to self-care and maintain the progress achieved in therapy. Children leave therapy with self-science journals full of tools that are personalized to their needs and report an increased ability to self-soothe, self-regulate and problem solve with the simple reminders of their journals.