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TORRINGTON >> A month into serving clients at a new location on Migeon Avenue, Tides of Mind Counseling is “getting very busy,” according to founder Iolanda Marucci, and that is exactly how Marucci likes it, she said.
“It’s very exciting,” said Marucci, a Middlebury native and licensed clinical social worker.
Marucci started a solo practice in Waterbury in 2014, but business picked up, she said, and eventually outgrew the capacity of the office. After noting that a number of clients were traveling from Litchfield County to Waterbury, Marucci and her husband sought space in Torrington, eventually settling on 990 Migeon Ave. Marucci and staff recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, with the assistance of Mayor Elinor Carbone.
The office has a spa-like atmosphere, Marucci said, with the aim of providing a more relaxing experience than one would find in a clinical or medical setting.
“I used to work at clinics in the past — I’ve been in the social work profession for about 15 years. And a lot of times when I walked into some of these places, I felt like I was in the hospital,” said Marucci. “It doesn’t have a calming or serene feel, and I felt like I wanted to replicate that feel in a counseling office. When people go to a spa, they feel like they can take time out to just focus on themselves and their needs.”
Most types of insurance are accepted — Medicare, at this point, in the only exception — and services are priced on a sliding scale to fit the resources available to clients.
Marucci said she hopes to hire additional employees in the near future.
The practice is also designed with a focus on cultural diversity — staff members speak nine languages, Marucci said — and individual needs. Those visiting the center have the chance to choose their own therapist from a brochure if they so choose.
After the ribbon cutting, Carbone praised Marucci for opening the business.
“Any time you have somebody who’s willing to invest in the city of Torrington, bring their business here, have confidence in what the community can bring to their business, it’s a really great day,” said Carbone. “The fact that it is a female or woman-owned business, even better. Those are the kind of things we really want to embrace or encourage in the city. So we’re fortunate to have you (addressing Marucci) here.”
For more information on Tides of Mind, call 203-819-0789 or visit www.tidesofmindcounseling.com