Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of true strength. Everyday stress, traumatic events and illnesses affect the quality of human life. These events can make us feel isolated and unsupported. They make it harder to build relationships with people, achieve career success and get in the way of enjoying life. Maria Kourounis is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who serves clients in Queens and throughout New York City. Read more about how the specialist helps to overcome psychological difficulties on queenska.com.
Education
Maria Kourounis dreamed of becoming a psychotherapist from a young age. As a child, she was very interested in building relationships and helping others. Although she had experienced enough trauma in her life, she was always sympathetic to the problems of others. The woman noticed that people around her were comfortable, open and sincere in sharing their experiences. That’s when she was finally convinced that she had chosen the right path. Good intuition and understanding of human psychology contributed to her successful career.
Kourounis received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College, one of the largest colleges of the City University of New York. She went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University, also in New York City. She is also certified as a school social worker by the University of the State of New York’s Education Department and certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
She is a contributor to the National Directory of Orthodox Christian Mental Health Professionals, published by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. Kourounis is a member of the National Vulvodynia Association, which studies chronic pain in the vulvar area.
What does she specialize in?
As an empathic person, Maria Kourounis helps people with the problems she has experienced herself. All areas of her work are related to her personal experience, which gives her a unique understanding of her clients’ problems. She helps to overcome anxiety and depression, and treats mental trauma. In addition, the specialist provides support to those who are experiencing stress and significant life changes.
Kourounis is one of the few therapists who specialize in helping women who suffer from painful intimacy due to anxiety, fear, trauma, sexual health issues, etc. The therapist especially often treats patients with adenomyosis, which is the growth of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) into its deeper layers. The pathology is diagnosed in women of reproductive age, most often from 27 to 30 years.
Seeing in each of these areas her own past problems, Kourounis feels each patient on a very deep emotional level. She sincerely believes that even the smallest actions are steps in the right direction. Counseling and full-fledged psychotherapy can lead to lasting positive changes in life.
Main methods
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Maria Kourounis most often works with CBT methods. This is a complex of overcoming mental disorders based on the use of knowledge gained from scientific psychology. The peculiarities of our thinking often give rise to negative emotions and thoughts. They make us dwell on problems, feel anxious and sometimes even develop into depression. CBT identifies such negative thinking patterns and gradually frees a person from them. This therapy is aimed at dealing with difficulties “here and now” through practical exercises. CBT challenges fear-based thoughts and replaces them with healthier, more constructive associations.
- Psychodynamic therapy. Kourounis often uses this therapy because it allows recognizing the connection between trauma, difficult past experiences and present feelings. It is based on the study of unconscious processes that influence our desires, behavior and relationships with people. Psychodynamic therapy is especially useful in the treatment of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During communication with a psychotherapist, the client expresses their thoughts, feelings and emotions. At this time, the specialist is looking for negative beliefs and patterns of behavior that affect the client’s life. The process of psychodynamic therapy can reveal early childhood traumas, help to understand negative attitudes formed at an early age and improve relationships with loved ones. This process can take several weeks or many months, depending on the complexity of the problem and the client’s needs.
- Interpersonal therapy. This is a short-term method of psychotherapy aimed at solving interpersonal problems. This type of therapy is most useful for patients with depression. Interpersonal therapy improves communication skills and helps build strong and healthy relationships between people. It is worth noting that depression is not a sign of weakness, but a real disease. Patients with depression feel depressed for a long time (at least 2 weeks), lose interest in activities that used to bring pleasure and have difficulty doing everyday activities. They hardly feel joy, constantly struggle with a lack of vitality, anxiety, drowsiness or insomnia, low concentration, loss of appetite, feelings of guilt or despair, etc.
- Trauma therapy. This technique allows you to relive a situation that has affected your thinking, mood, feelings, or ability to communicate effectively in a safe environment and under the supervision of a specialist. It is a special approach to therapy that emphasizes that traumatic experiences affect a person’s mental, behavioral, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. The therapist’s role is to help a person understand their situation, teach them how to express themselves and cope with stressful situations. Trauma therapy is especially popular among patients with PTSD, such as soldiers.
- Strengths-based therapy. The therapist works with the client to understand their unique strengths and resources in order to use them to cope with a disorder, such as depression. It is a form of talking therapy where the client is the storyteller. They can talk about traumas, pain, and stressful situations while the therapist listens carefully and identifies strengths.
Safe space
Maria Kourounis provides clients with a safe space where they can share their thoughts openly. Counseling and psychotherapy methods help to develop emotional intelligence, overcome stress, adapt to university, new job, survive loss (end of a romantic relationship, death of a loved one, etc.). Parents can also learn the secrets of proper parenting. During therapy, you will create a stronger and healthier version of yourself. The specialist helps the inner voice to be heard, while deepening the emotional connection through vulnerability and developing self-love.
By the way, Maria is not only a professional but also a loving wife and mother of three. Her favorite things to do include watching her hockey player son excel in sports and exploring cultures through new dishes and recipes.