October, 2021
We are pleased to announce Maria Guarraci, LCSW is the MHAM Volunteer of the Month!
Maria is a volunteer clinician with MHAM’s Pro Bono Counseling Project (PBCP). The PBCP connects individuals, couples, and families who are uninsured, underinsured, and unable to afford the cost of mental health treatment with a volunteer, licensed, and insured mental health clinicians. Volunteer clinicians provide short term counseling at no cost to the client.
Maria is committed to reducing barriers to mental health care. “In my early career, I had the opportunity to work with underserved populations in Chicago Public Schools and rural North Carolina. I am so grateful to the PBCP for providing an opportunity for me to run my private therapy practice in Michiana while also continuing to address the unmet mental health needs of vulnerable people in our community.”
Maria’s work as a volunteer clinician has left an impact on the clients she has served, earning her high praise for her solution based clinical work. Volunteering has also left an impact on Maria. “I have been reminded of the amazing capacity of humans to impact change in their own lives, even when there are life circumstances out of their control that may make positive movement difficult.”
Maria is a 1999 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of North Carolina. Maria is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who began a part- time private therapy practice in South Bend in 2018. Maria grew up in Spencerport, NY and met her husband during their freshman year at Notre Dame. They moved back to South Bend in 2013 and are busy raising their 4 children.
“This project would not be possible if it was not for our volunteers as they are really such an important piece when it comes to the success and growth of the program” – Angela Fitch, PBCP Project Coordinator.
Interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer clinician?
Visit our Volunteer Page for more information.
or send us an email: mha.michiana@gmail.com
To learn about eligibility or to apply to receive counseling services through the Pro Bono Counseling Project, visit our website: https://mhamichiana.org/seek-assistance
We are grateful to receive financial support from
- Beacon Community Impact
- Glick Philanthropies
- Community Foundation of St. Joseph County
To make a financial gift to support the Pro Bono Counseling Project, please donate here.
