Hidden Gems: Meet Maria Bertrand of Maria Bertrand llC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Bertrand.

Maria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up the youngest of five kids, with three older brothers, and I had a hunch that finding my power as a woman — and supporting other women — was going to be part of my path and vocation. I carry a tote that says “Behind every successful woman is herself,” and women will often call out when they see me, “Love your bag.” Females of every generation have worked hard to get where they are, and this generation is no different. I wholeheartedly believe that, as insiders, we women have to continue to uplift one another. As a licensed psychotherapist in Ohio, I work as a telehealth provider so that I can extend my reach to women throughout the state and because I have clients who move around Ohio to pursue career and educational opportunities and I want to stay connected to them. I continued to see Ohio clients even when recently living for two years in Japan. Since I’ve been back, and working now from Cincinnati, I entered another chapter of the female experience — and career experience with it — menopause. In doing so, I realized, along with my colleagues, how little information is easily available to women on the full-spectrum of the midlife experience, from biology to sex to mental health — and worse — how much disinformation is out there. I felt antsy to do something. So, with a former colleague, we launched the Menopause Care Collective with a team of female clinicians to go into the community to educate women on midlife from the perspective of gynecology, psychiatry, biology, nutrition and mental and sexual health. We do this as a free service and believe in making our events fun, conversational and curated to various interest groups. We’ve organized thematic tours at the Cincinnati Art Museum, panel-discussions at the Mercantile Library, hair/skin/and nail care education at local salons, and serious, research-driven conversations at local corporate events. Knowledge is power. And studies show that without proper midlife care women can lose years from their lives. Research ALSO shows that women often are at their happiest in their post-menopausal years. So there is so much hope for healthy and fulfilling lives for us. I love what I do and am excited to continue having more conversations with women, both in my private practice on Zoom and in the curated spaces of meeting women around the midlife experience. For more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out: http://www.mariabertrandtherapy.com, http://www.menopausecarecollective.com

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I decided to become a psychotherapist as a second career. I was a journalist first, then a stay-at-home mom. I went back for my Masters degree in my late 30s while raising two kids in California, away from our support systems in Ohio. Then we moved back to Ohio and I had to get my training hours in Ohio while still being a mom, sleeping in the car at pick-up time, doing my homework while my kids were at school. I got into community mental health starting out, helping women who were experiencing Intimate Partner Violence. This was sad but meaningful work. Eventually I started a private practice but didn’t want to lose sight of helping women in the most challenging situations. That’s why I’ve continued to offer pro bono therapy twice a week through the Santa Maria Community Services organization here in Cincinnati. It helps keep me grounded in the lives of women who are struggling to get through each day for basic survival. Six years ago, I lost my mother, then my kids launched, and shortly after, my 30-year marriage ended in divorce. It reshuffled a lot in my life, but, my mother always told me that when you’re in a hard spot, help someone else — it will make you feel better. So I really leaned into my work. My hope was that if I kept doing the next right things, doors would open and things would work out. And they have. So that’s how I operate. I stick close to my values and trust that life has a way of working itself out.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Maria Bertrand llC?
I’m a licensed psychotherapist in Ohio and I work 50% with couples and 50% with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues and those who want to work on healing from family-of-origin wounds. I think I’m known for being a therapist who goes a little deeper, connects dots that might not have been connected before. I feel I have a compassionate stance but also humor and directness. We will laugh, we will pause with pain, we will have the ah-hah. I’m proud that I still work with clients who started a decade ago. I’m proud that I have clients who tell me I changed their lives. I’m proud I have clients at the heads of their fields who trust me with their struggles. I’m proud when I get referrals from my clients because it means I must have helped them. I’m proud that I had a mother and father who taught me to be kind, generous of heart, open to every kind of person on the planet, and humble. They created a blueprint that set me up for this work. And I’m proud of my clients — each and every one — truly. They thank me often, but I truly feel thankful to them. It’s a real gift when someone trusts you enough to share their inner world. I highly value the work we do together and am grateful for it. I think this gives you a sense of who I am.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’ve been very lucky to have the family I have, to be born into the body I have, the country and SES I have. That is pure luck. I was lucky to have great mentors and colleagues and clients along the way. All of that allowed me to continue to pursue my dream of being a therapist in private practice and reaching clients I’ve had the privilege to work with. I’d done my own therapy soon after having kids and was enthralled by the process of therapy. I thought my therapist was a rock star and I still meet with her as needed. She really lit the match for my desire to become a therapist. She changed my life just as so many of my clients tell me I’ve changed theirs. Talk about luck. I was so lucky to have found my therapist — the person she is. I think I channel her a lot of the time — her and my mom. And I’ve been lucky to have so many great friends who are volunteering their time and support as I launch the Menopause Care Collective. From offering their spaces to their bartending services to literally joining the team, people have come together to make this passion a reality. I’m very lucky!

Pricing:

• My sessions are $165/50 minutes
• Menopause Care Collective events are free.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mariabertrandtherapy.com
• Instagram: @menopausecare.collective
• Facebook: Menopause Care Collective
• Other: https://menopausecarecollective.com