Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Nemec.
Hi Maria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I opened Pathways to Peace, Inc. in 2016. This was following a traumatic incident in my life that lasted for many years. Initially, it was a second job for me as I was undergoing much legal expense from my traumatic situation. I was also desperately in need of peace in my life. With that in mind, I decided to open a private practice and name it Pathways to Peace, as I felt many people can relate to this very basic concept and need in life. This was the second time around for opening a counseling practice, as I operated a very successful practice in Annapolis, Maryland for over 15 years! Pathways to Peace, Inc. has grown tremendously since the day I opened! I was able to quit my full time job and dedicate all of my time and and energy to the joy I feel in helping others! I specialize in treating eating disorders, but I also work with individuals who experience depression, anxiety, post trauma stress, and other mental health conditions. More recently, I have developed an interest in the collaborative divorce process, which is where a divorcing couple utilizes a team of attorneys, a mental health professional, and a financial professional to settle their divorce outside of a court room. The mental health role is a key component in the process of helping the two sides reach agreements. Lastly, the thing I am most proud of with Pathways to Peace, Inc. is the development of a creative arts program! “Arts in Healing” was co-created by myself and my colleague, Rachelle Alford. Rachelle is an artist, dancer, and educator and the two of us have a unique story of our own. After meeting in a dance studio over 2 years ago, Rachelle and I realized that we both have a passion for the arts and we took that passion to create a fabulous mental health program at Pathways to Peace, Inc. in Lake Mary! Arts in Healing is a series of workshops where we use art projects, choreographed dance, and musical lyrics as a means to process difficult emotions and challenging life events. We launched the program in March of 2025 and we have been seeing amazing results! This program creates a safe space for participants to share their stories and to use their creativity in a unique way that promotes emotional healing, reduces stress, and creates a sense of community. We are extremely proud of the work we are doing and we are amazed ourselves that this random idea has turned into such an incredible program!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Opening and maintaining your own business is never smooth.. of course there are challenges along the way. The biggest challenge is funding sources, whether it be dealing with insurance companies who make it difficult to receive reimbursement for services or for clients to have the ability to self-pay. I am always looking to partner with local businesses who would support our mission for healing and connection in the community!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Pathways to Peace, Inc. ?
Pathways to Peace, Inc. is a mental health counseling practice, I specialize in treating eating disorders, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, and other mental health conditions. I work with adolescents and adults, couples and families. I also serve in the role of a mental health neutral in a collaborative divorce process, helping couples settle their divorce peacefully. My greatest pride, though, by far, is the Arts In Healing creative arts program!!!!! Arts in Healing is a bi-monthly mental health program where we use art projects, choreographed dance, and musical lyrics to process difficult emotions and challenging life events. Each workshop has a different theme related to mental health combined with a project (either art or dance) and a musical selection which represents that theme. Some of our themes include “beauty and brokenness”, “anxiety”, “self-worth”, “pieces of my story”, “finding calm in the chaos”, “this is me”, and more. We hand-wrote an amazing curriculum and our participants have been giving us wonderful feedback! In addition, since we started the program, we have seen tremendous growth in our participants! The arts can really transform a person’s mental health!! We are truly honored to be doing this amazing work!!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My amazing co-cocreator of Arts in Healing, Rachelle Alford. Rachelle is the backbone of the arts and dance components of this program. She is an amazing artist and dancer, dance instructor, and educator. Rachelle has a nursing background, but was forced into early retirement as a result of developing a rare vestibular disorder. Although Rachelle has come a long way in her own recovery, she deals with chronic illness on a daily basis. Rachelle utilizes both art and dance as a big part of her own recovery process. She is a warm and caring individual whose own personal story is healing for others. Rachelle and I together are an amazing team! Together we combine mental health and artistry into one amazing healing experience!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pathwaystopeace.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathways_to_peace_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pathwaystopeac
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-nemec-lcsw-ceds-6510b3111/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PathwaystoPeaceInc
