Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Perdomo-Torres.
Hi Maria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Cuba and came to the United States at the age of 16 as a political refugee. My father had been a political prisoner for much of my childhood, and when he was granted asylum, I was able to come with him as his dependent. The transition was incredibly difficult. I had to adjust to a new culture and language while also facing the painful reality of leaving behind my mother and older sister, who had been my primary source of support. I didn’t know it then, but it would be nine years before we were reunited.
After high school, with only some college experience behind me, I joined the U.S. Army. That decision proved to be both challenging and transformative. It pushed me to my limits mentally and physically, but it also gave me something I wasn’t really expecting from it: a true sense of belonging in this country through the family and community I found there. I chose to serve as a mental health specialist because I had always been fascinated by the human mind. Growing up, my uncle, who lived with us, had schizophrenia. While others felt frustrated or even intimidated around him, I was able to connect with him deeply. I also witnessed the profound psychological toll that years of imprisonment took on my father. These early experiences fueled my curiosity about mental health and inspired me to dedicate my life to supporting others in their struggles.
My time in the Army strengthened that passion, and I have since dedicated my career to the mental health field. Over the years, I have worked in a variety of settings, including psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health, and telehealth. These experiences have given me a broad perspective on the many ways people seek healing.
In late 2019, I took the leap to open my own private practice, and I haven’t looked back since. Today, I focus on supporting high-achieving women who often feel like they have to hold everything together for everyone else. Many of my clients are deeply caring and successful, yet privately carry stress, self-doubt, or emotional exhaustion. My goal is to provide a space where they can lay that weight down, reconnect with themselves, and find resilience and balance.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road. Moving to the United States as a teenager came with culture shock, language barriers, and the pain of being separated from my mother and sister for nearly a decade. Later, I faced the challenge of balancing life as a single mother while serving in the Army, and eventually as a military spouse and non-traditional student. During that time, my husband deployed three times, which meant I was pursuing graduate school while raising two young children and carrying much of the load at home on my own.
Starting my own practice in 2019 also brought uncertainty, especially with the pandemic arriving just months later.
Each of these experiences tested me in different ways, but they also shaped me into the person and professional I am today. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and compassion, qualities I now bring into my work with clients who are facing their own struggles.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My practice, Graceful Mind Therapy, is a virtual private practice where I specialize in supporting high-achieving women who often feel like they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. Many of my clients are women who appear strong and put-together on the outside but privately struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, or the pressure of always being the one others rely on. I provide a safe space where they don’t have to hold it all together, and where they can reconnect with themselves, their resilience, and their sense of balance.
What sets my practice apart is both personal and professional. As a veteran, immigrant, and mother, I bring lived experience that allows me to connect with clients in an authentic and compassionate way. Clinically, I take an integrative approach, drawing from evidence-based therapies while tailoring treatment to each woman’s unique story and cultural context. I also offer therapy in both English and Spanish, which allows me to serve a wider community.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Graceful Mind Therapy reflects the heart of what I do: helping women heal with compassion and grace while empowering them to move forward with strength and clarity. I want women to know that therapy isn’t just about coping with problems. It’s about creating space for healing, self-discovery, and growth.
What are your plans for the future?
Looking ahead, I want to continue expanding the reach of Graceful Mind Therapy so that more women can access compassionate, high-quality mental health care. One of my current goals is to grow my practice by adding team members who share my vision and values. I’m also developing new offerings, such as psychological evaluations for immigration cases, which is a meaningful way to serve immigrant families and give back to a community I deeply relate to.
In the long run, I also hope to expand Graceful Mind Therapy by offering financial therapy and coaching as part of my services. Just as I help women heal emotionally and reconnect with their inner strength, I also want to support them in building confidence and clarify in their financial wellness.
On a broader level, I’m excited to keep refining my work, whether through professional development, writing, or creating resources that help women feel less alone in their struggles. My long-term vision is for Graceful Mind Therapy to be a trusted space where women can find healing, empowerment, and a renewed sense of balance in their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gracefulmindtherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracefulmind.therapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gracefulmindtherapy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mperdomotorres/
- Other: https://www.threads.com/@gracefulmind.therapy
