Influential Women spotlights Maria Pagan’s somatic wellness work

Influential Women is recognizing Maria De Los Angeles Pagan, a West Palm Beach Licensed Clinical Social Worker and somatic breathwork coach, for building a career around trauma-informed care, embodied healing, and community service. Her work spans clinical therapy, a South Florida wellness practice, and leadership roles that support students and families.

Why it matters: - Maria De Los Angeles Pagan’s work sits at the intersection of mental health care and somatic wellness, a growing area of interest as more clients look for body-based approaches to stress and trauma. - Her career combines licensed clinical social work, breathwork, and community leadership, showing how one professional path can bridge traditional therapy and holistic care. - The recognition from Influential Women highlights women building careers in emerging wellness spaces while maintaining clinical standards and ethics.

What happened: - Influential Women recognized Maria De Los Angeles Pagan, LCSW, a West Palm Beach, Florida-based founder, coach, and clinician. - Pagan is the founder of Somatic and Mental Wellness Co. in South Florida. - Pagan works as a Certified Somatic Breathwork Coach and Practitioner and as an Integrative Somatic Breathwork Practitioner and Coach. - Pagan also serves as a Senior Primary Therapist at a private practice.

The details: - Pagan serves clients dealing with anxiety, burnout, trauma, major life transitions, and physical pain. - Her clinical work includes partial hospitalization and outpatient levels of care. - Pagan uses DBT, CBT, REBT, and Narrative Therapy in her therapy practice. - Pagan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University. - Pagan completed a Master of Social Work in Clinical Social Work at Florida Atlantic University through the school’s Jumpstart program. - Pagan is the first person on her mother’s side of the family to earn a master’s degree. - Pagan holds licensure as a clinical social worker and certification as a somatic breathwork practitioner. - Her early work included jobs as a dance instructor, cheer coach, student aide at a children’s research facility, nanny during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Registered Behavior Technician. - Pagan provided ABA therapy to children with autism spectrum disorder as a Registered Behavior Technician. - Pagan was named Rookie of the Year in 2023 and Employee of the Month in October 2024. - Through Somatic and Mental Wellness Co., Pagan offers resources focused on nervous system regulation, trauma release, breathwork, and embodiment practices. - Pagan says the company is built on the belief that lasting transformation happens through the body, not the mind alone. - Pagan credits her mother, father, brother, sister, community-oriented culture, and mentor Dawn Kesselman for helping shape her path. - Pagan also serves as Vice President of Beca Estudiantil Maria Mercedes Pagan, a scholarship initiative supporting students through education and community investment. - Pagan volunteered with the spirit team at Florida Atlantic University as a Spirit Volunteer. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile and Somatic and Mental Wellness Co..

Between the lines: - Pagan’s path shows how early work in education, child care, and behavioral health can lead into specialized clinical and wellness roles. - Her emphasis on body-based healing reflects a broader shift in mental health toward integrated care models that address both emotional and physical experience. - Her advice to young women focuses on self-trust, taking up space, and building careers without waiting for outside permission.

What's next: - Pagan is likely to keep expanding her clinical and somatic wellness work through both her private practice and Somatic and Mental Wellness Co. - Her ongoing community and scholarship leadership suggests the work will remain tied to education access and local support networks. - Her profile positions her as part of a broader conversation about how women clinicians can shape holistic mental health care.