Welcome to Amapola Counseling! I’m glad you’re here.
Maria Stephens LPC/MHSP
I’m a licensed mental health therapist and founder of Amapola Counseling. My approach to therapy is person-centered, flexible, and grounded in cultural understanding. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel seen, heard, and valued—where every part of who you are is seen and heard without judgment.
My clinical experience began in community mental health in 2019. I hold a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands and a Master’s in Human Services with a focus on Family Studies & Interventions from Walden University.
I found my way into this profession through the lived experiences of loved ones and communities carrying emotional pain and generational trauma alone and unseen. Language barriers, fear, and stigma often keep people from seeking help.
Amapola Counseling opened in 2025 with the mission to provide culturally-affirming and bilingual counseling in East Tennessee.
Originally from California, I’ve called Tennessee my home since 2019. When I’m not in sessions, I enjoy music, good coffee, cooking, caring for my plants, walks with my dog Charlie, and being with family and friends. I especially love exploring East Tennessee with my husband, traveling, and discovering new food and coffee spots.
If you’re ready to start therapy, let’s talk.
Maria Stephens, LPC/MHSP
What is the meaning of amapola?
“Amapola” means “poppy” in Spanish.
It's a flower that holds personal significance. The golden poppy is a reminder of my own roots — California’s state flower is also native to Mexico. As the daughter of immigrant parents, it’s deeply meaningful to have the opportunity to create a counseling practice that is shaped by culture, story, and community. The amapola represents the courage it takes to build something new in unfamiliar places and find ways to thrive.
Amapola Counseling is more than a business name — it’s a space that I’m pouring my heart into. I’m inspired by the stories and resilience that I’ve had the honor of witnessing in my clients — especially those navigating life between cultures, systems, and identities. The amapola grows wild and adapts to its surroundings. It seeks the light. It survives. It grows where it’s planted with quiet strength.
Healing can be messy even uncomfortable at times, but the amapola is resilient, and so are we.