Maria Gates, MSW

Maria Gates is a graduate of the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. As a Community Advocate, she began her journey as a mental health professional through Community Outreach in Watts, California, providing cost-effective, accessible therapy to Black and Brown clients that otherwise would be unable to receive services. Maria also gained experience by working with gang violence prevention units and social justice counseling centers to provide services to incarcerated youth and formerly incarcerated clients, assisting them with the readjustment to society and breaking the cycle of recidivism. Maria enjoys co-creating safe environments for her clients to introduce their spiritual and religious beliefs into their therapeutic relationships. Maria enjoys clients from all walks of life and identities and specializes in self-esteem, social justice/coping within the power structure, depression, domestic violence, mindfulness and goal-setting