Maria T. Bentley, MHC-LP (she/her/hers)

Therapist

College can be an exciting time of independence and growth, but it can also bring stress, uncertainty, and moments where you may feel overwhelmed by everything happening around you. My goal in therapy is to provide a calm, supportive space where you can slow down, reflect on what you're experiencing, and begin building tools that help you feel more grounded and confident.

Through Amira the Healing Space, I provide counseling services to SUNY Oneonta students navigating academic pressure, identity exploration, emotional stress, and life transitions. I work with students and young adults who may be dealing with anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, or the pressure of trying to balance many responsibilities at once.

Students often seek support with:

• Anxiety, chronic stress, and overwhelm
• Depression and mood-related challenges
• Trauma and post-traumatic stress responses
• Identity development and self-esteem concerns
• Academic and creative burnout
• Relationship and communication difficulties
• Grief, loss, and life transitions

I have experience supporting college and graduate students, neurodivergent individuals, athletes managing performance pressure, and individuals navigating complex family dynamics or institutional stress. I am also passionate about working with creatively driven individuals who may be balancing artistic expression, academic expectations, and personal wellbeing.

In addition to my clinical work, I have a background in art and design, which helps me understand the emotional landscape that many creatives experience. I often support students who are trying to reconnect with their inspiration, manage burnout, or integrate creativity into their overall wellness.

My clinical approach is holistic, relational, and trauma-informed. I integrate several evidence-based approaches including:

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)–informed skills
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness-based practices
• Trauma-informed frameworks
• Somatic awareness techniques
• Strengths-based and relational approaches
• Creative and expressive modalities when helpful

I also incorporate somatic awareness, helping clients better understand how stress and emotions show up in the body and how to regulate those experiences more effectively.

Clients often describe my style as warm, direct, and grounding. Our work together will be collaborative and tailored to your goals. Whether you are looking for structured tools to manage stress or a supportive space to process difficult experiences, therapy with me focuses on building insight, resilience, and sustainable growth.

If you are navigating academic pressure, burnout, or emotional overwhelm during your college years, therapy can offer a space to reconnect with yourself and build the skills needed to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Schedule with me here: AmiraTheHealingSpace.as.me