There is an endless source of Life within every human.
It’s just a matter of weaving the pain into gold.
Hi! My name is Maria Palumbo. I am a Licensed Social Worker living in Pennsylvania with my husband and rescue pup, Annie. I am a psychotherapist. After 10 years of running my own business, I am excited (and relieved!) to work with others, where I get to do what I love and leave the marketing to the other guys. It is only a matter of time until I host local retreats and workshops again on healing trauma and creating fantastic relationships, this time with the gentleness and slowness of a work and people-aholic, in recovery. I am working on a book, a manual to heal love and sex addiction for the people expert. First and foremost, I’m settling in Pennsylvania in our first home, after years living across country in California.
Over the last 10 years, I have created and co-hosted some beautiful events in the world.
Sex, Soul, and Sovereignty Retreat Florence, Italy and San Diego, California (Luxury retreats for people who identify as women).
Unchained Workshop: Healing the Addiction to The Thing That Hurts
Wild Love: Full Day Immersive Workshop in Oakland, CA.
Follow Your F*ck: Healing Relationship to Turn On, San Diego, CA
I have more recently had the privilege of teaching on polyamory in the School of Leadership and Education Science of University of San Diego. I have enjoyed being invited back to share my expertise on the romantic relational orientation of polyamory and will continue this guest lecture for the Couples & Sex Therapy class, as long as they will have me. This lecture is not available publicly, though I would love to speak to your university. Send me an inquiry.
Soon I will be speaking to Colorado Mesa University Foundations 101 Social Work class on burmout prevention, which will include my recent personal experience working in a Community Mental Health agency.
I thrive in supporting and encouraging therapists, caregivers, and empaths to be the fullest version of themselves, especially as they pour out to others on the daily. I love watching someone discover who they truly are, letting go what their parents taught them, what society hissed, watching in awe as they belong to themselves at the core.
I have an intense thirst for justice. I will often forfeit reputation, or accolades, to stand up for what I believe is ethically sound.
These days you can follow my writing on Substack, as well as share your own journey with me there. I respond to most reflections on each of my Substacks. I no longer write with the fervor of romantic heartbreak, as was the heartbeat of much of my earlier work. I am healing and moving through some other things, as I surmise I will always be. I believe in noticing and breathing life to every part of my humanity, that someone else might enjoy the fullness of who they are too, just a bit more.
Recently a dear brilliant friend and previous client sent me a book she published. Said something along the lines of “Because I admire how you always taught with your full humanity, I want you to have this,” I hope I will always be remembered as such.
Mostly I’m letting myself be unflinchingly ordinary.
For a taste of my writing, go here, here, and here.
For my podcast interviews go here, then here and up in here. My passion project of a podcast with husband before it is baked, is here under the highlight “Podcast intro.”.
To be notified of when I host workshops and retreats, drop me a line.
For Up to date Writing, Join Maria’s Substack, “A Woman In Love.”
From Body Love Goddess Photoshoot, my first ever event! Celebrating the inherit beauty of every body. Photographer: Tracey Di Paolo
