Maria Rios

Practicum Student

Philosophy

I believe life naturally brings challenges, transitions, and moments of uncertainty that can feel overwhelming to navigate alone. Each person’s experiences, relationships, and perspective shape the way they move through those challenges.

As a counselor, I strive to create a supportive and collaborative space where clients feel seen, understood, and empowered to explore greater self-awareness, resilience, and meaning. My hope is to help clients build confidence in their ability to confront life’s difficulties in ways that align with their values and lived experiences.

Maria is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Counseling at Southern Methodist University, where she also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish. As a bilingual clinician-in-training, Maria is especially passionate about increasing access to culturally responsive care for Spanish-speaking communities. In her role as an Academic Success Counselor, she supports students from diverse backgrounds as they navigate academic, personal, and transitional challenges within higher education. These experiences have deepened her passion for working with individuals, couples, and families from a wide range of cultural and lived experiences.

In her spare time, Maria enjoys reading, baking, and arts & crafts. She also loves spending time with her partner, friends, and family (including 3 adorable dogs).

Additional Areas of Focus

Boundaries
Codependency
Coping with divorce, blended families
Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts
Faith and spirituality
Family therapy
Grief and loss
Guilt and shame
Identity and self-image
Life changes/transitions
Marriage, couples
Pre-engagement, pre-married
Relationship issues
School-related issues
Stress management
Women's issues, young women

Education

Masters of Science in Counseling (December 2026) , SMU, Dallas, Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, SMU, Dallas, Texas