-
Meet the Clinicians: Maria Hoppas, LCSW
Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) is excited to welcome Maria Hoppas, LCSW as Program Director of Outpatient Services for both NFSB licensed locations at 155 and 169 Chestnut Street. This is great news for people seeking counseling as Maria is spearheading the expansion of NFSB mental health services. Growing our team of clinicians and increasing hours of availability will ensure that more people can schedule immediate appointments with no waitlist.“One of my most important roles will be training and supervising our clinicians and helping them be the best they can be,” Maria said. “We have such a wonderful group of clinicians and I want to be a support system for them. I also want to make sure we’re following best practices and providing high-quality care that’s accessible and affordable for anyone who needs it.”
Maria knew from a young age that she wanted to help people. She would observe people and their circumstances and think to herself, “Why is this the case? How can I make it better?” Always passionate about human rights, equality, and social justice, she wasn’t sure where her passions would take her.
Maria earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from William Paterson University. While pursuing her Master of Social Work with a concentration in Advanced Direct Practice with Children and Families at Rutgers University, she fell in love with the experience of being a clinician.
“I learned that therapy is the only relationship in life where it’s just about you,” Maria said. “In other relationships, you have to be mindful of the feelings and thoughts of others, but therapy is the only place where the focus is just on you. It’s not about the other person in the room. Their job is to help you figure out who you are, how you feel, and how to be your best self. The therapy process is almost sacred in that way.”
Maria started her career as a clinician at Metropolitan Family Health Network in Jersey City, providing crisis counseling and social services to the homeless population. Most of her career was spent as an LCSW at Hackensack Meridian Health – JFK University Medical Center in Edison, which allowed her to explore many areas of therapy for individuals, groups, and families. Seeking new challenges, Maria joined Cornerstone Day School in Cranford, providing therapy to middle and high school students.
“Students humble you, and you’ll never laugh harder than when you’re surrounded by students all day,” Maria said. “I eventually found myself missing the diversity in populations and wanting to move into a full-time leadership role. NFSB has allowed me to go back to my true love, which is working with different people in all age groups through outpatient therapy.”
At the end of the day, Maria has the heart of a social worker. She has come full circle at NFSB, supporting other clinicians in the same way she has been supported throughout her career. She’s also grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an organization that addresses the whole person and helps the community in so many different ways.
“I’ve always been the clinician who’s willing to supervise because I love the energy,” Maria said. “I enjoy training and brainstorming with other clinicians to make sure we’re delivering a high standard of care. But I also care about the bigger community. The work we’re doing at NFSB is really important. We have people’s lives in our hands. There’s a great sense of responsibility and passion here and I’m excited to be part of it.”
The Mental Health Program at NFSB provides counseling and psychiatric services for individuals and families. New clients are welcome and immediate in-person and telehealth appointments are available. English- and Spanish-speaking counselors are ready to help and we’ll always respect your privacy. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 973-667-1884 extension 1.
