About Maddie & Essere

Feel at home in your body - Release the shame, guilt, and unhelpful narratives that are holding you back.

I’m Maddie, a person-centered therapist, and fellow human.

I am passionate about walking beside clients as they learn to find comfort within themselves.

How I got here…

For the greater part of my early life, I felt that I was something that needed to be fixed.

I spent years trying to “fix it”, trying to be perfect, and trying to make square pegs fit into round holes. It was my thought, at the time, that fixing everything on the outside would help me to feel better on the inside. I have since discovered that living that way was not serving me.

I began identifying and healing those parts of myself (and always continuing to seek healing) has enabled me to step into a space of alignment and know that I can live from the inside-out.

Those experiences shaped me into who I am today and equipped me to step into the world as my truest, most authentic self and create a space for others to do the same.

Today, I feel at home in myself, I am proud of who I am in my soul, and I feel honored to walk with my clients on their journeys to find their truest selves in this world.

Today, I support others in releasing the shame, guilt, and unhelpful narratives that keep them from living their most authentic lives.

My approach to therapy is to help individuals cultivate self-compassion and acceptance.

I want to empower them to recognize their inherent worth, trust their inner voice, and make choices that align with what truly feels right for them—rather than being driven by external expectations

Education and Training:

  • B.S. in International Affairs

  • Master of Social Work (MSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

  • Private practice therapist (7+ years)

  • Former eating disorder treatment center clinician

  • Former hospital-based mental health provider

  • Former community mental health therapist

  • Trained in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)

The story behind the name…

Essere, the Italian word for "to be," holds deep significance.

Inspired by my time in Italy, I had it tattooed on my wrist in my early 20s. Little did I know this word would become central to my work as a therapist and educator.

With Essere, I aim to provide you with the tools to take small, meaningful steps toward feeling grounded, self-assured, and present in your life—just as you are, right now.

Credentials & Experience

8 years of experience in private practice and MSW from Fordham University

In-depth training with eating disorders and body image at several levels of care

Worked alongside professional athletes struggling with body image

Mindful Self Compassion, Trauma-informed CBT + Internal Family Systems

A few important pillars of my practice:

✓ Focused on healing, not fixing

✓ Inclusive, client centered approach

✓ Honoring the whole person - mind, body, spirit

✓ YOU are the expert on you

✓ Your body is inherently trustworthy

✓ You have bodily autonomy

✓ The therapeutic connection is healing

✓ There is healing in embracing imperfection 

✓ Always staying curious

My approach…

I have found therapy to be most effective when founded in connection, motivation, and a touch of humor.

Collaboration is key—together, we can navigate your unique needs. I believe in the power of authenticity and use a direct, humanistic, solution-focused approach.

I blend practices like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. I also draw from psychodynamic insight and trauma awareness. In the office, I encourage body movement, mindfulness, and sometimes art to support your emotional body journey.

I am a trauma-informed provider committed to inclusivity and affirming care for all identities, bodies, and lived experiences.

I can support you with:

  • Body Image + Disordered Eating

  • Self-Esteem

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Life transitions

  • Relational issues

  • "I learned to think about things differently"

    “I began working with Maddie in the summer of 2019, and have come farther than I ever imagined since then. In terms of my general happiness, my improvement and satisfaction have been so relieving and gratifying. This was my first experience with weekly therapy, and I did not know what to expect. I have come to be able to rely on myself and find comfort in my mental health. Before this, I did not realize how much energy was taken by my anxiety; I thought it was just normal thinking. With Maddie, I learned to think about things a little differently and it has made all the difference.”

    — AJ, age 33

  • "It was worth my life."

    “It has been a game-changer to work with Maddie and tackle my depression. I have had other therapists, so I knew the value of them to fight depression, but I plan to stick with her for a long time. Of course there had been hesitation (as anyone with depression may attest to), but thankfully I got past the “stuck point”, and that now seems like a lifetime ago. As much as I fought going back to a therapist, Maddie meets you where you are at. It was worth it for me. It was worth my life.”

    — RB, age 22

Services & Offerings…

The Essere
Method

Transform your body image and boost self-confidence in 15 minutes a day. Join the waitlist!

Individual
Therapy

A custom treatment plan that is solution focused and based on your specific goals and values.

Free
Resources

Download helpful, free tools to reframe your thoughts about your body, mind and wellness.

you are not alone

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you are not alone ·