Maria van Dyke, LMSW

Meet Maria

Maria van Dyke, LMSW, practices psychotherapy in the Ithaca Office. After more than two decades as an ecologist, Maria transitioned into therapy to fulfill her desire to work with humans. She earned her MSW from SUNY Binghamton in 2023, bringing her experience with the challenges and pressures of competitive natural environments.

Maria works with clients of all ages, empowering them to develop greater confidence, practical skills, and self-understanding. Her clinical experience includes providing individual therapy at Family & Children’s Counseling Services, addressing mental illness, trauma, grief, substance use, and dual diagnoses. As an intern at Tompkins County Whole Health, Maria facilitated group therapy sessions emphasizing interpersonal processing, psychoeducation, skill-building, and mindful meditation. She also coordinated specialty care for clients with psychotic disorders.

Maria uses a strengths-based, client-centered approach informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing. Drawing from her upbringing by a physical therapist passionate about body mechanics, Maria incorporates mindful movement practices into her therapeutic approach. She believes that exploring past and present experiences fosters meaningful personal growth. Maria deeply respects the courage her clients demonstrate in their therapeutic journeys and sees therapy as a partnership built on trust and integrity.

Outside the office, Maria enjoys backcountry adventures, surfing, music, dancing, crafting, studying native bee ecology, and encouraging her daughter to share these passions.