Meet Maria Antell, LMSW! Maria sees clients in Putnam county.
What made you decide to enter into this profession?
While in undergrad, Maria developed a strong interest in the subject of psychology, which drove her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In her studies, she learned a variety of topics ranging from the different parts of the brain to how the brain processes thoughts and emotions. As Maria progressed in her studies and finished her courses to graduate, she began working with children and families affected by developmental disabilities. There, she was able to meet and help many types of people from different backgrounds and experiences. She loved how she could directly apply her psychology knowledge and skills to her work. Maria truly enjoys the experience of getting to know people and being a resource to aid in people’s mental and physical health. However, she felt that there was more she could do for those families and children if she were to attain a master’s degree specifically in social work. Thus, Maria earned her master’s degree in social work because of her interest in the human mind and her passion for understanding and helping others. Now, she is able to continue her professional career in a larger capacity by working with people from different populations and backgrounds.
What part of being a counselor do you most enjoy?
Maria most enjoys meeting people “from all walks of life” and having the opportunity to help people achieve their goals. She thinks of her interest in meeting new people as “a basic human quality”, she is naturally inclined to ask and learn about different people’s lives and be of benefit to them. She feels especially lucky to be working as a social worker in the U.S. because she is able to interact with people of different ethnicities and different socioeconomic statuses. Maria believes that meeting new people and clients through her work simultaneously teaches her new things about life, human experiences, and various subjects almost every day. Social work provides Maria with a role that allows her to devote time to her passion for understanding and working with others.
Why do you like working with Cornerstone Mobile Counseling?
Maria started working with Cornerstone Mobile Counseling earlier this year. Cornerstone Mobile Counseling’s business model enables clinicians to interact with clients through telehealth visits. Maria values Cornerstone’s business model because the model provides great flexibility in terms of balancing her professional and personal life. Since Maria holds another full-time job, she is able to manage her time between both jobs and her personal life in a healthy manner. With Cornerstone, she is able to balance her telehealth appointments with the demands of her full-time job. Additionally, Maria confidently believes that Cornerstone is providing her with a multitude of opportunities. Maria trusts that Cornerstone will lead to her growth as a clinician and help her reach her ultimate goal of owning her first private practice. Since joining Cornerstone, Maria has already become credentialed and has connected with large insurance companies such as Fidelis and MVP. This has given her access to more clients across the state of New York, which has given her more experience as a social worker to improve her skills. Cornerstone’s large amount of clinician opportunities has given her invaluable insight into her job. Maria feels that she can use these experiences to better prepare herself to open her dream business.
What is the biggest difference between working with Cornerstone versus your previous employment?
Overall, Maria appreciates the amount of freedom/flexibility Cornerstone Mobile Counseling has to offer. In previous jobs, Maria has had a regimented and controlled schedule. She had to offer certain types of therapy and reach a certain quota of clients she had to work with. Cornerstone Mobile Counseling’s business model is different from most counseling services because there is no pressure to see a certain number of clients or reach a specific quota. Maria feels that she has the freedom to practice and employ any and all types of therapy she deems fit for her clients. The company allows Maria the opportunity to “mold and shape” her scope of practice in ways that are most comfortable for Maria. Apart from this, Maria feels supported by the Cornerstone community. Employees in the company have given her assistance, clinically and financially, to help Maria progress as a clinician. She feels connected to other clinicians and is in constant interaction with others like herself. Maria feels like she is a part of a large supportive community at Cornerstone. She has not quite experienced the type of community and culture Cornerstone has created in her previous job employments.
What are some reasons why you enjoy going to clients’ homes/public places and offering your services in those types of environments?
Maria is still new to the company and has not yet offered her services in clients’ homes, but she is excited to do so. However, she has met clients in public places to go on walks, complete exercise workouts, and practice mindfulness. Maria sees the benefit of these types of environments because it allows her to interact and work with her clients in ways that cannot be created in traditional settings. She loves how Cornerstone Mobile Counseling encourages a variety of forms of therapy that are more stimulating and interactive than more of the traditional forms of therapy.
What is something you personally do to take care of your own mental health?
Maria is a strong believer in the “practice what you preach” method, the ways in which she encourages her clients to care for their mental health are the same ways she takes care of her own mental health. Maria believes in getting eight hours of sleep every night, making it a goal to move(be active) on a daily basis, and setting personal boundaries. Furthermore, she believes that staying social and often connecting to close friends and family are important as well.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Italy to explore my family history and my husband’s family history
What is your favorite meal or snack?
Pizza!
What is your favorite word or catchphrase?
“We can’t work harder than our clients.”
Would you rather explore space or the bottom of the ocean?
Space
How do you like to unwind?
A run, hike, time with my dogs, or a good movie.