Maria Bruce has done a lifetime of service in under a decade, and she’s not done yet.
Maria graduated from the Mount in 2018 as a double major in Psychology and Music, with a minor in Educational Studies. Coupled with a master’s in Mental Health Counseling, she has since used her education to support others through mental health counseling and community connection. With her unique combination of degrees, Maria has given back to her community in a multitude of ways. She supports patients with mental health struggles as a Behavioral Health Facilitator, has assisted with music therapy for adults with exceptional needs, and she recently completed an internship at UC Health in the Employee Assistant Program (EAP) where she counseled UC Health employees. In the most meaningful of ways, Maria illuminates her community.
Being a Rock for Patients in Need
Maria works as a Behavioral Health Facilitator, providing support and stability to patients in need. Many of the patients the hospital staff supports come to them in the middle of a mental health crisis, overwhelmed and struggling to find stability in their everyday lives. For Maria, one of the most rewarding parts of this job is seeing real, meaningful progress in the patients she works with. It feels incredibly fulfilling to see a patient she’s working with go from emotional outbursts and shutdowns to being able to identify their feelings, use coping strategies, and advocate for their own needs.
“There’s nothing quite like the moment when a patient you’ve been working closely with finally has a breakthrough, even if it’s something as simple as a calm day in class, a positive interaction with a peer, or expressing how they feel using words instead of behavior,” says Maria.
Embracing the Healing Power of Music for Adults With Exceptionalities
In addition to working as a Behavioral Health Facilitator, Maria has used her unique double major to provide music therapy to adults with exceptional needs. “Music is such a powerful, universal language!” Maria exclaims. By playing and interacting with music, whether it’s through clapping along to a beat, dancing to a rhythm, or singing along, music therapy creates a shared experience that brings people together. “I’ve seen individuals who may struggle with communication, emotional regulation, or social interaction light up when the music starts,” explains Maria.
The music therapy she provided created a sense of community, self-confidence, and even emotional healing for the people she worked with. “It’s more than just fun, it’s therapeutic, empowering, and deeply humanizing,” Maria states. Music therapy fully engaged the adults Maria worked with, and gave them a space to smile, laugh, and be themselves.
Giving to Those Who Give the Most in UC Health’s Employee Assistant Program
Maria recently concluded an internship in UC Health’s EAP. She recalls it as an incredible experience that helped to shape her clinical and professional goals, and is glad to have had the opportunity to provide mental health support to healthcare professionals. Healthcare workers confront a wide array of highly stressful, harrowing situations on a day-to-day basis, and are often in great need of support themselves. “These are individuals who are constantly giving to others, often under intense pressure, and it was powerful to be in a position where I could help them focus on their own mental well-being,” Maria reflects.
To Maria, one of the most valuable aspects of the internship was the diversity of cases she was exposed to. There were a wide range of diagnoses for the UC Health employees she counseled, from depression and anxiety to complex PTSD and burnout. Maria worked with many individuals who had experienced significant trauma, which deeply resonated with her and confirmed her passion for trauma-informed care. Taking what she learned from the internship, Maria expresses, “ Supporting trauma survivors, especially those in caregiving roles, showed me just how crucial it is to create safe, supportive spaces for healing, and it’s an area I plan to specialize in as a future counselor!”
Supported by Family, Friends, and the Mount Community
Maria’s journey to lighting the way has been shaped by various individuals who have supported her all along the way, both from within the Mount community and outside of it. First and foremost, her family has played a vital role. “They’ve been my foundation, always encouraging me to follow my passion for helping others, and instilling in me the values of compassion, perseverance, and service,” Maria recalls in gratitude. The constant love and support of her parents gave her the confidence to pursue a career in mental health, and with this confidence, she gives back to her community in truly meaningful ways. Maria also gives thanks to her close friend, Anna Drees, a fellow Mount alumni, for the influence she has had on her professional journey. “She’s someone who’s always believed in me, challenged me to grow, and led by example in her own service to others,” Maria says gratefully.
Maria has had some incredible mentors from the Mount community as well. She thanks Mary Mazuk for always being a source of guidance and encouragement, always willing to listen and help her think through her goals with clarity and confidence. She thanks Professor Jim Bodle, Ph.D., for helping her see psychology as a tool for real-world change, and she thanks Professor Tim Lawson, Ph.D., for always pushing her to grow academically and professionally with the high expectations he held her to. “Each of them helped shape the professional and person I’m becoming,” Maria declares.
Lighting the Way Toward an Even Brighter Future
Maria lights the way in the profession of mental health counseling by standing tall as a source of hope, guidance, and stability for those who are navigating some of the darkest moments in their lives. On her service in the field of mental health counseling, she says, “It’s about showing up with empathy, patience, and a deep commitment to helping others feel seen, heard, and supported.” She continues, “In a field where people often feel lost or misunderstood, being that steady light can make all the difference.” In her work, Maria strives to create safe spaces for healing, especially for those in crisis who have experienced trauma. Whether working with children or adults, she does her best to meet people where they are emotionally, and guide them with compassion and evidence-based support.
Looking toward the near future, Maria is considering moving to Scotland for some time to gain experience outside of her comfort zone as a mental health counselor in a different cultural setting. In doing so, she hopes to expand her clinical skills and deepen her understanding of diverse perspectives and approaches to healing. Looking farther out, her long-term goal is to work in private practice and specialize in the treatment of trauma, which has always been an area that she is deeply passionate about. “I’ve seen firsthand the impact trauma can have on someone’s life, and I want to be a part of the healing process for those who often feel unheard or misunderstood,” Maria voices.
Eventually, Maria would like to begin her own private mental health counseling practice and build a nonprofit organization focused on supporting individuals who are struggling with mental health issues by hosting concerts to raise money for different causes, blending her love of mental health counseling and music to Light the Way for her community.
Maria declares, “No matter where I go or what path I take, I’m committed to continuing this work with compassion, purpose, and a strong desire to make a lasting impact.”
Want to Learn More About Psychology at the Mount?
The Mount’s Psychology Major provides a diverse range of preparation for careers in the field of psychology, including mental health counseling, child development, and more. The Mount’s psychology program teaches students how to develop skills with strong evidence-based research, and offers its students a competitive advantage in obtaining jobs and admission to graduate school. For more information about psychology at the Mount, click here!