Maria Gardell, LSW, MBA

Maria is a Licensed Clinician in the Philadelphia area with over 15 years of clinical experience. Maria earned her Masters degrees in Social Service and in Law and Social Policy from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Service and Social Research. Maria was awarded a Master in Business Administration where her focus was on the management and financing of the U.S. health care system.

Maria’s clinical skills and trainings took place at local inpatient psychiatric hospitals where she was a Lead Clinician in the adult and adolescent dual diagnosis units. Maria has worked extensively with individuals struggling with substance abuse and adolescents challenged by family and social issues. Maria has years of experience in providing individual, couples, family and group therapy both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Maria has over 10 years of training, experience and skills in EAP clinical work and in brief solution focused counselling. Maria provides counselling for employees who are struggling with grief and critical incident situations where companies need help managing their workforce. Maria has helped employees who suffer from co-occurring disorders and collaborates with community resources to coordinate level of care assessments and evaluations.

Maria has a holistic perspective in helping clients as she believes that life challenges are a result of the interplay of social, economic, and family environments. The dynamic and diverse intersections of these forces in one’s life contribute to creating an imbalance causing personal friction and stress. Maria’s theoretical approach lends itself to the Systems Theory and the boundaries, structures and purposes that define and allow an individual to express, function and grow. Maria has worked with Landlord and Tenant issues and adjudicated teens where her mission is always to help others express their feelings and thoughts without fear of judgment and with a sense of safety.

Maria has taught a gerontology caregiving course, written articles for a local newspaper, researched and edited a healthcare book, contributed articles for a local clinical journal, and organized an art exhibit for a social work graduate school. Maria enjoys working with others, the outdoors and spending time with her furry best friend Teddy.