Maureen ‘Ziji’ Drake

Licensed psychotherapist

Background:

I believe that healing begins in relationship—with ourselves, with others, and with the deeper wisdom that often emerges when we feel truly seen and understood.

My path to becoming a therapist has been shaped by both science and contemplative practice. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Smith College before completing a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Together, these experiences continue to inform how I understand the intricate relationship between the brain, emotions, relationships, and the human capacity for change.

Before opening my private practice, I spent thirteen years at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, immersed in an environment dedicated to psychology, medicine, mindfulness, creativity, and human potential. Working alongside internationally recognized psychologists, physicians, health practitioners, and spiritual teachers broadened my understanding of healing and reinforced my belief that lasting transformation comes from caring for the whole person—not simply reducing symptoms.

For more than twenty years, meditation, yoga, and contemplative study have been an important part of my own life. I practiced with the Shambhala Meditation community in New York City, completed traditional Buddhist training and retreat at Karme Choling in Vermont, and studied Kundalini Yoga while helping organize Summer Solstice gatherings in New Mexico. These experiences have profoundly shaped how I listen, remain present, and accompany people through periods of uncertainty, loss, growth, and transition.

While contemplative traditions have deeply influenced my perspective, therapy is never about asking clients to adopt my beliefs. Instead, I honor each person's unique values, worldview, and life experience. Whether your foundation is psychological, spiritual, religious, secular, or somewhere in between, our work together will always be centered on what is meaningful to you.

My Approach:

I view therapy as both a science and an art.

My approach integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with mindfulness-informed practices that help clients develop greater awareness, emotional resilience, and lasting change. Depending on your needs and preferences, our work may explore the connections between thoughts, emotions, relationships, the nervous system, and—when meaningful to you—questions of purpose, identity, and personal growth.

I strive to create a therapeutic relationship that is warm, collaborative, and grounded in genuine curiosity. Together, we work to understand long-standing patterns, strengthen your inner resources, and develop practical tools that support meaningful change in everyday life.

Clients often describe me as calm, grounded, resourceful, practical, and gently challenging. I believe growth happens when compassion is balanced with honesty, and when insight is translated into action. My role is not to tell you who to become, but to help you reconnect with your own strengths, deepen self-understanding, and move toward a life that feels more authentic, connected, and fulfilling.

Experience the difference that in-person therapy can make in a calm, thoughtfully designed environment. I welcome adult clients into two beautiful, private offices located in Tampa's Hyde Park Village and St. Petersburg's Crescent Heights, where comfort, confidentiality, and healing come together.