Therapist Profile

• Maria Ines Butler LCSW

Maria Ines is a bilingual (Spanish) and bicultural Virginia State Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She received her MSW from the Catholic University of America and worked in Washington, DC before practicing in the Fairfax area. Maria Ines has particular interest and experience working with issues related to trauma, grief and loss, intimacy and boundary issues, relationship difficulties as well as life transitions and acculturation issues. She uses various therapy interventions to treat individuals (children, teens and adults) and couples and has specialized training in play therapy and expressive therapies.

Counseling Experience

Maria Ines' counseling experience includes agency work and private practice work providing outpatient therapy to children, adolescents and adults. Maria Ines has experience providing individual, couples and group therapy to treat issues of trauma (due to childhood sexual abuse, sexual victimization, intimate partner violence and trafficking), depression, anxiety, grief and loss, intimacy and boundary issues, relationship difficulties, and acculturation issues. She has worked as a trauma therapist utilizing play and expressive therapies to work with children whose lives are interfaced with issues of sexual abuse, family violence, loss and bereavement. She has facilitated groups for sexually abused adolescents and well as adult survivors of sexual trauma. As a "Third Culture Kid" (TCK) herself, she is aware of the importance of processing issues many TCKs who relocate face such as loss & grief, acculturation and adjustment issues as well as the culture shock that often accompanies "returning home". Maria Ines encourages clients to take an active role in their healing journey and believes that individuals are experts of their own life experiences.

Education

1. The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Master’s of Social Work.
2. Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA. Bachelor of Arts, Sociology.

Professional Organizations

1. National Association of Social Workers 2006-present
2. The Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Workers 2008-present
3. Virginia Association for Play Therapy 2009-present

Presentations

1. "Working with Latina Survivors of Sexual Assault," presented at Shadows of the Past, Sexual Assault Awareness Month in 2006.
2. "Child Sexual Abuse and Depression in Immigrant Communities," guest speaker at Radio America.
3. "Latina Culture and Sexual Assault," presented at DC Rape Crisis Center.
4. "Spirituality and Latina Trauma Survivors," presented at the National Cultural Competence Conference in 2008.