FAQs

“Curanderismo’s strength comes from it’s practice of always incorporating whatever is useful and available into it’s treatments in an intuitive and creative way.”*

Curanderismo is often labeled as “Mexican folk healing,” but can better be understood in western language as a holistic healing tradition practiced across what we now call the Americas, rooted in Latinx communities. In Mexico, it is also known as medicina del campo or Mexican Traditional Healing. Curanderismo today often reflects a synthesis of Indigenous, Catholic, Sephardic, and African influences, depending on the practitioner’s cultural and spiritual background. This is why some consider it a blending of traditions, rather than solely being Native medicine or European medicine.

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Curanderismo is used to treat physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual “disease,” often by understanding all ailments to be related. Though the word curanderismo comes from the spanish word “cura” for “cure,” and curanderas are often referred to as healers, it is important to know we are just part of the overall health community. Please see the disclaimer at the end of the page for more on this.

The sobadera uses touch as her tool.

“Why do we need touch? Because all human beings require intimate contact…. Curanderas use massage (see note) not only to relax the body and the muscles but to touch the soul, to draw forth and begin to heal emotional and physical pain.”*
Sobaderismo is a version of curanderismo focused on the skin, muscles, and connective tissue as well as how these physical parts interact with and are informed by the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the self.

Having spent nearly a decade as a professional massage therapist, Maritza brings in their extensive knowledge and diverse practices from that time to help clients identify and address psychological, and emotional, and spiritual distress and needs as they are held in the body.

During sobaderismo sessions, clients may be as dressed or undressed (but covered with draping) as they prefer, and are in continuous communication with Maritza to co-regulate, as well as notice and respond together to triggers, pains, and needs.

Sobaderismo is for those who have been disconnected from their bodies through various trials and are looking to become better friends with and allies to their physical selves. Sobaderimso is most often used to treat disintegration from injury, ailment, or trauma but is also a good grounding resource for anyone whose everyday life prevents easy access back to their embodied selves.

Note: While Sobaderismo clients often report physical relief of muscle pain and soreness as well as increased range of motion comparable to that received from deep tissue massage, the sobaderismo services offered at RLC are specifically a hands-on energetic service, and any soft tissue manipulation is incidental to what is being charged for.

Executive Coaching sessions are 45 or 90 minute talk sessions (held in person or via zoom) where clients discuss, develop skills around, and progress with plans on work-related issues. Maritza has two decades of owner/operator experience as well as client-facing leadership positions, and has held various professional and admin related roles throughout their life.

Based on their experience in mental health, running businesses, and serving as admin and support staff in client-facing roles since 2005, Maritza helps clients understand the interpersonal dynamics, mental and emotional needs, and other factors at play in their work distress.

Maritza helps EC clients use Non-violent communication techniques as well as emotionally mature language and techniques to resolve issues and lead businesses and organizations toward better, more humanized and decolonized outcomes.

Tarot refers to a deck of cards, usually 78 in total, with symbols representing various archetypes, ideas, and events. A tarot reading is the shuffling, pulling, and placement of cards in one of many patterns to get information regarding the querent’s (the person who wants the reading) subject of query.

Readings can be done synchronously or asynchronously, in person or online. At RLC, the querent has a choice from among more than 50 tarot and oracle decks, each of which has a distinct theme or “flavor” that can help inform the reading.

Tarot readers are often not just familiar with the symbolism and meaning of each card, but also of how the cards relate to each other and the unique ways in which they can, when put together, form a particular meaning, story, encouragement or admonition. Tarot readers often also use intuitive guidance and spiritual practices to inform their readings.

Tarot reading is not fortune telling but instead an opportunity to ask for and receive guidance, empowerment, or opportunities for further reflection from the universe/guides. As a curandera, Maritza uses their lineage (coming from generations of curanderas, healers, readers, and more), their intuition, their pattern recognition and deep study to give readings that are not just prescriptive but descriptive in a way that invites the querent to gain their own understanding of the cards and the message of the reading. Giving the context of how these cards relate to each other than the other cards/suits/symbols of the deck, Maritza seeks to give readings that leave the querent encouraged and informed.

All sessions can be held online or in person, though sobaderismo is strongly recommended to be held in-person.

For in person sessions, we will meet in Maritza’s home studio in North Austin. Be aware that Maritza has dogs and ferrets present in their home though, and relevant allergies may be an issue. Both dogs are used as emotional support dogs for clients as desired, but may also be kept away upon request.

For everyone’s health and safety, we ask that clients attending in person be as vaccinated as their health allows, test if experiencing any symptoms, and inform Martiza so that both may mask if the client is feeling at all ill, even if they are testing negative for COVID. 

Address will be communicated through email after in-person session is confirmed. Otherwise, all sessions will be held via zoom at the information sent in Vagaro emails.

Because the focus of RLC is decolonizing and rewilding help, Maritza is open to work on all subjects about which they are adequately equipped to help, but does notice particular themes in both hands-on and hands-off work:

-Neurodivergence: a non-pathologizing view of mental health disorders, differences, and diagnoses.

-Specifically late-dx AuDHD in Queer, BIPOC, and feminized communities

-Hang ups related to sex, romance, and practice of relationship styles outside of compulsive heteronormative social standards

-Divestment from oppressive societal norms through every day interactions and relationship patterns (sexual, romantic, filial, professional, and otherwise)

-Identity work that includes native, ancient, and up-to-date language, archetypes, and practices

-Healing from trauma via targeted exploration of previous events in a safe, consent-forward, co-regulating setting

-Bridging the gap between personal liberation themes and those in relational and professional settings.

Sessions are booked by time, either 45 or 90 minutes for curanderismo and coaching, or 45-60 and 90-120 minutes for sobaderismo. Tarot sessions are 30 minutes or done asynchronously.

For all talk sessions, the client will arrive at the studio or in the zoom room at or just before their scheduled appointment time, and be let in by Maritza as soon as they are available. Rarely, a session will start more than 5 minutes late, in which case Mariza will usually communicate ahead of time so the client is not left waiting. Clients can always call, text, or email Maritza if unsure about appointment time, etc.

After greeting the client, Maritza will ask the client to introduce what they’d like to work on during this session, help establish an agenda, and follow the client’s lead with thoughtful reflections, clarifying questions, helpful resources, and engagement that lets the client know they are being heard, understood, and cared for.

At the end of session, Maritza will work with the client to establish homework (which Maritza keeps track of in notes taken during session) which will be checked on during the agenda section of the next appointment. They will also confirm the time of next appointment and check to make sure there are no other issues that need addressing before the next meeting.

In between sessions, clients are welcome to call/text/email at any time, as Maritza will only see and respond during office hours.


Hands-on sessions will always been in-studio, where Maritza will greet the client, get relevant information, and help them get set up on the treatment table. Client and Maritza will stay in communication about physical, mental, and emotional needs during treatment while Maritza uses gentle, consent-forward touch to address issues discussed before session. As new themes arise, Maritza will respond accordingly.

These sessions are booked for 45 or 90 minute sessions but it is requested that clients be available to stay up to 60 or 120 minutes, respectively, to allow robust flexibility in making sure clients are ready to go back into the world securely, regulated, and ready to drive before they leave.

Rates and fee policies are set in line with respect for the skill, expertise, and availability of the practitioner as well as the individual needs of the client. All fees are transparent, flat-rates. No taxes, tips, or add-ons to worry about.

Session payments can be made via Venmo, Paypal, Cash app or credit card. All appointments require a card on file to be booked.

Below, you’ll find both the standard session fees and sliding scale options (subject to approval and availability).

Curanderismo, Sobaderismo, and Executive Coaching Session Fees are simple:

• $220 per 45 minute session
• $440 per double session (90 minutes)
• Or sliding scale rate for 45 min/double sliding scale rate for 90 min

Tarot Session rates are $55 per reading, done synchronously or asynchronously (30 min max)

Sliding Scale Policy (Curanderismo only)

Sliding scale rates, which apply only to recurring (minimum once per 4 weeks) curanderismo appointments, are currently available on a limited basis.

In order to be charged according to the sliding scale, clients must bring up the financial need during the initial consultation (or during a session if your financial situation has changed), choose a rate between the $165 minimum and $220 regular rate to pay per 45 minute session, and complete a Sliding Scale contract on Vagaro.

NOTE: NewBIPOC clients are eligible for a minimum rate of $125 per 45 minute session, in respect of discrimination-based income disparities.

Instead of sliding scale options, Sobaderismo appointments have drop-in rates (regular, seen above) and the lowered rate for recurring 90-minute sessions ($220 instead of $440).

Curanderas do not operate under any licensure or overview board. Generally, Curanderas apprentice under other, older practitioners for many years studying the various ways of the elders.

Maritza grew up in a family with “the gift,” an intuitive, energetic awareness that makes people particularly suited to this work. Surrounded by the practices of limpias, yerberia, energy work, tarot reading, and a worldview that supported these as normal and good, Maritza learned first from their great-grandparents and grandparents. In their adult life, Maritza trained in professional counseling and massage therapy, practicing as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Massage Therapist in Texas until 2020, when they retired their licenses to practice full time curanderismo.

Maritza keeps a robust personal continuing education syllabus through reading relevant texts (reading over 100 books a year, many dealing directly with mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health and supportive practices), attending continuing education and training seminars and conventions, and seeking out further learning opportunities whenever possible.

Maritza earned their licenses in Massage Therapy (2012) and Professional Counseling (2014) and practiced for many years, qualifying for many additional certifications and training as an LPC-Supervisor. However, due to COVID precautions and licensing board reactions to client needs, Maritza chose to retire both licenses in order to practice from a more fully de-colonized/indigenized perspective, one they saw as more ethical and humanizing of/helpful for the clients they wanted to serve.

Retiring licensure means Maritza is not recognized as a mental health or bodywork expert/professional, and cannot write letters for work or school. It also means Maritza is no longer legally qualified to diagnose. For these issues, Maritza works with clients to find the right professionals for them, empowering clients and often collaborating with other professionals to meet client needs.

Maritza was raised in many multi-generational homes, surrounded by those who possessed “The Gift,” and practiced “The Ways.”

While interested in this work, Maritza believed they would follow the traditional path of raising a family while working as an LPC, then apprenticing, and leaning more heavily into traditional curanderismo practices. This was always the plan, a global pandemic and personal life circumstances just moved the goalposts.

Maritza does hope to grow in other areas of curanderismo as time goes on, but saw that their 20+ years in helping/caring professions in addition to their native practices and experience honing “The Gift” were more than enough to begin with heart-talk curanderismo