Maria Ortiz

Maria Ortiz, is a Bilingual ordained minister who has served as Lead Pastor of the House of Peace and Restoration in Springfield, Massachusetts since 2013. She is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Human Services from the Cambridge College in 2017, followed by earning her Master’s in Education in Mental Health/ Marriage and Family Therapy in 2019, from the same institution.

Maria is passionate about working with families, groups and individuals with a holistic approach. She enjoys seeing how the restorative power of the Gospel, in conjunction with evidence-based theories can have a transformation effect in the lives she has been privileged to serve. She has worked with families struggling with relationship problems, as well as individuals dealing with depression, trauma, addictions and anxiety. She considers herself Spiritual, Compassionate and eager to help others manage their life in a more holistic manner.

Alex Rivera-Fernandez

Alex provides counseling to individuals experiencing psychiatric disability, dual diagnosis, substance abuse, addiction, isolation and trauma, among others. Services delivered from a multicultural competence perspective through the Wraparound Framework and Systems of Care Philosophy to a broad spectrum of ethnic backgrounds.

He has Post-doctoral Re-specialization in Psychology with an emphasis in health psychology, substance abuse and addiction and clinical pastoral counseling. Alex specializes in emotional distress, psychiatric disability, dual diagnosis, substance abuse and addiction, trauma, and serious emotional disturbances.

Alex is an ordained minister of pastoral care and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor with Advanced Certification in specialties such as clinical pastoral counseling, domestic violence, crisis-and-abuse, marital and premarital counseling, therapeutic mediation and conflict resolution.  *Now a certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator

Jason C. Ravizza

Jason has worked in the mental health field for the past 25 years – working in and for private practices, mental health clinics, partial hospital programs, adult psychiatric units, public schools, lockup programs, specialized schools, and as adjunct faculty on the college level.  He has worked as a clinical supervisor and a site supervisor for a local college for four separate programs. He has also taught Child Development at the college level.  As a Clinical Supervisor and Site Supervisor, Jason has supervised Masters’ and Doctoral Degree professionals working toward their MA state licensure and graduate students working toward their degrees and certification. He’s also licensed as an Assistant Principal and Principal and as a School Adjustment Counselor.

Jason works with children, youth and adolescents with diagnoses including ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), Conduct Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) and those that are on the Autistic Spectrum.  His treatment approaches include forms of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.  He also works with individuals, couples and families.

Jason has worked with individuals experiencing the following difficulties: drug addiction, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, those in immediate crisis, marriage problems, people in need of divorce care, separation issues, those experiencing abuse and neglect issues, custody battles, court related issues, learning disabilities, anger management issues, job loss, low self-esteem/low sense of self-worth, sleeping issues, career related and transition issues, concentration difficulties, and grief and loss.

His philosophical approach is focused on working with the whole person; spirit, mind, body, and soul.  He believes the inner workings and interconnections of these vital components of our humanity are replaceable in working toward mental, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, social and physical health.  He pays attention to the whole person, helping unlock each person’s full potential as a human being.

Jason Ravizza is a graduate of Springfield College with both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education with a specialized focus in counseling.  He has a C.A.G.S (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies) in Educational Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Note: Jason is also a school counselor in Springfield. We’re very proud of his work on this poem (and video) honoring first responders. Thank You Jason. We couldn’t agree more!

Watch to hear the poem and see the video!