Hi. I’m Maria. I’m glad you’re here.
I’m a licensed mental health therapist and the owner of Amapola Counseling. My goal is to offer a space where you can show up just as you are — where you feel seen, understood, and supported through life’s challenges.
I started Amapola Counseling in 2025 to provide culturally affirming, bilingual therapy for adults in Tennessee. My approach is person-centered, flexible, and grounded in cultural understanding. Therapy with me is collaborative — we’ll explore what’s been weighing on you and find meaningful ways to heal and help you move forward.
I came into this work because I’ve seen how emotional pain and generational trauma can go unnoticed in families and communities. I understand how fear, language barriers, and stigma can make it hard to reach out, and therapy should feel approachable and supportive for anyone who needs it.
My clinical work 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.
Originally from California, I've called Tennessee home since 2019. When I’m not in session, I love good coffee, music, cooking, plants, and spending time with my husband, family and friends. I enjoy exploring new coffee and food spots around East Tennessee and planning our next little getaway.
If you’re considering therapy, I’d love to hear from you.
-Maria
Maria Stephens, LPC/MHSP
What is the meaning of amapola?
“Amapola” means poppy flower in Spanish.
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 that I 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. 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 reminds us that so are we.