Dr. Maria Rotella

Born and raised in the New York City metropolitan area, Dr. Rotella is grateful to have had the privilege of witnessing a beautiful array of cultures and creative ways of living from an early age. She is passionate about helping people break through barriers that are commonly imposed by the dominant culture while finding ways to work more comfortably both inside and outside ‘the box’ to achieve goals. Dr. Rotella has worked with clients in settings ranging from prison to university, and you can count on her accepting you ‘as you are’ without judgment while helping you recognise and recover your own strengths. Dr. Rotella brings expertise to support you with a variety of concerns, and she has particularly enjoyed working with clients whose lived experience includes neurodiversity, gender diversity, and relationship diversity. 

Dr. Rotella also loves the magic of group therapy, and the way the process of collaborative creation can transform us as individuals and as a community. She has enjoyed developing and facilitating numerous groups in professional settings as well as in the community. She is currently offering a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group (see group information below).

Dr. Rotella has been living in New Zealand for over 8 years and is very grateful to be raising a family in the relative safety, stability, and incredible beauty of Aotearoa. She replenishes her vitality with longstanding hobbies of dancing, hiking, swimming, and philosophical discussion.

CREDENTIALS: Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

WORKING WITH: Adults (age 18+)   

AREAS OF INTEREST/SPECIALTY

• Self-awareness & Personal Growth   

• Depression  

• Life Transitions   

• Stress & Anxiety     

• Relationships & Communication

• Anger & Frustration

• Addiction

• Pain    

• Cultural Transitions   

• LGBTQ+ 

• Adult ADHD  

PRIMARY THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES

• Integrative Therapy

• Person-Centred Therapy

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

• Narrative Therapy

• Brief Psychodynamic Therapy

• Mindfulness-Based Therapy

GROUP THERAPY OPTIONS

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Group

This 8-session group provides an opportunity to gain skills for: 

• Coping with stress, strong emotions, and pain

• Dealing with unhelpful thoughts

• Communicating and connecting more effectively with others

• Being kind to yourself and others

• Finding contentment in simple things and living in the present   

INSURANCE ACCEPTED: Southern Cross    

HOURS OF AVAILABILITY: 10am-3pm; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

THERAPY FORMATS

• In-person (in Whangarei, NZ)

• Zoom  

For more information, please send me an email (Please note emails are sent to the Practice Manager and forwarded to me)