Maureen Schafer, founder of Presence of Mind Therapy, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 14 years of experience providing mental health support to individuals at multiple levels of care. Maureen’s background in Social Work has afforded her opportunities to advocate for marginalized and oppressed populations. Maureen is passionate about empowering others and advocating for the betterment of the larger society. We function in the context of the larger systems we are a part of, and therefore must reject the notion that we are individually flawed.
It is the ethical obligation of all practicing Social Workers to remain current on practice models, psychopharmacology, and research in the field by attending annual conferences, continuing education trainings, collaborating with other professionals, and making referrals where necessary. Adherence to the Social Workers’ Code of Ethics and privacy laws including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) are mandatory. Maintaining your privacy and safety are our primary responsibilities.
Maddy is currently a graduate student at TCNJ pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is on track to graduate spring’22. Post-grad, she will be seeking licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Born and raised in Westfield, NJ, Maddy earned her undergraduate degree at Penn State University (grad. 2015) with a Bachelors in Advertising and a double minor in Psychology & French.
In her counseling approach, Maddy believes that clients are the experts on their own experience. For this reason, she aims to have all sessions be collaborative in nature, where her role is mostly to facilitate clients towards goals that align within their needs, wants, and values. She also aims to provide a safe space for clients to openly process their emotions and experiences, therefore heightening their own self-awareness and insight. Theoretically, Maddy leans towards CBT, mindfulness, feminist, Adlerian, and person-centered approaches. All of these approaches are strengths-based in nature, meaning they hold that all people are inherently good, and capable of positive change.
Maddy is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and an avid ally for all marginalized populations. She is eager to help and excited to (hopefully) meet you!
