Maria Smith, MSW, LCSW, is the Clinical Supervisor at notMYkid, where she supports the growth of compassionate, skilled clinicians while helping ensure youth and families receive high-quality behavioral health services. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2004 and approved Clinical Supervisor, Maria brings extensive experience in outpatient and residential treatment, detoxification services, opioid treatment programs, and substance use recovery. She graduated with honors from Arizona State University with a Master of Social Work and specialization in Child Welfare.

Maria is passionate about mentoring the next generation of therapists and counselors. She enjoys helping interns develop their clinical skills, work through challenges, explore effective interventions, and grow into confident professionals. She believes meaningful change happens when people feel both supported and challenged to step outside their comfort zones.

One of Maria’s favorite memories at notMYkid was witnessing an intern’s excitement after a client and parent responded positively to a new intervention. Seeing hope replace fear in the child’s eyes and hearing the client say they believed change was possible; was a powerful reminder of the impact compassionate care can have.

Maria loves working with teens because of their curiosity, honesty, humor, and incredible “aha” moments. She finds it rewarding to see young people discover new perspectives, recognize their potential, and grow into the people they are becoming.

If she could share one thing with her teenage self, Maria would remind her that confidence naturally rises and falls and that stepping through discomfort is how we build resilience and discover what we’re capable of.