About Us

Maritza Rodriguez, LCSW

Hello, and welcome! I’m Maritza Rodriguez, founder of M.E.N.D. Center and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I provide therapy for children ages 3–12 and strive to create a warm, supportive, and child-friendly environment where children feel safe, understood, and cared for.

I was raised primarily by my mother in a single-parent household alongside my two brothers, and I learned early on the value of perseverance and hard work. During my tween years, my mom made the bold decision to leave her job and begin selling tamales, eventually turning that work into a thriving catering business. Watching her taught me not to be afraid of hard work or of getting my hands dirty to build something meaningful. From my grandfather, I learned a lesson that has stayed with me throughout life: whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability.

My life has been shaped by family, faith, perseverance, and difficult experiences that strengthened my compassion and sense of purpose. Those experiences inspired me to pursue education and deepened my commitment to healing, hope, and compassionate care. I am deeply family-oriented, grounded in spirituality and faith, and guided by the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, understanding, and care.

I am married, and my husband and I have a young adult daughter who is now in college—a bittersweet season of life. Outside of work, I enjoy reading books with happy endings, spending time with family, going on walks, enjoying delicious food, and watching crime-solving shows. In another life, I am convinced I would have been a detective.

Professionally, I earned my Bachelor of Social Work from La Sierra University and my Master of Social Work from Loma Linda University. I have worked in demanding and meaningful settings, including child welfare, school-based mental health, and other roles serving vulnerable populations. Over time, my experiences increasingly drew me toward supporting children and recognizing the importance of addressing emotional needs early in life. M.E.N.D. Center grew out of that journey and from my desire to provide children with thoughtful, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate support.