Afya Counseling and Wellness Services, LLC

03/23/2026

My insights about the therapeutic nature of cooking was included in a recent article from Self magazine. Take a read, enjoy and be inspired to make something good for yourself soon! Grateful to Michelle Beadle Holder for inviting me to share.

Reclaiming cooking requires separating the act from the obligation.

03/15/2026

Today is the last day to vote! Make sure you cast yours!❤️

03/02/2026

I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as a finalist for the Visionary Social Worker Awards, founded by , in the Creative Arts category.

I’m proud to share my creativity through food, mental wellness and storytelling. I appreciate how many of you have taken this journey alongside me.

Voting is open from March 1–15, 2026, and you can vote once per day during that time.

If you’d like to support, you can do so here:
samarastone.com/voting
Grateful to be part of a community that values meaningful, sustained impact.

02/20/2026

Name of the game today was endurance.

We can lift heavy and sprint through a workout but what does sustained energy and pacing look like? Really had to lock in for this one and so glad I did.

30 minutes of straight rowing. No breaks, just continuous movement. I was so proud of myself and my 6am crew! We start the day hard so we can end easy. 5541 meters. Done! Movement is medicine and today it was the antidote for any lingering self doubt. I can and will endure. When was the last time you did something hard on purpose?

02/10/2026

Listen in! Had a great time doing this interview!

Repost from
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Episode 3 of our School of Thought podcast was just released, featuring part 1 of Meria Carastarphen’s conversation with of about nutrition in schools. Listen on Buzz Sprout or your podcast platform of choice: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2566613/episodes/18646908

02/06/2026

Repost from
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School of Thought Episode 3 featuring of drops next week with a fantastic conversation about nutrition in schools. You won’t want to miss it!

01/06/2026

As we move into a new year, it is worth remembering:
You do not have to hold everything together on your own.

Strength is not about pushing through at all costs.
Sometimes it is about pausing, being honest, and allowing yourself to receive support.

Healing begins when we stop pretending and start telling the truth.

— Afya Counseling & Wellness Services
A safe space for your healing journey.

01/02/2026

.usa is so bomb! Got lunch, dinner and dessert from !
Food from & dessert from ! Great value and options available! Go support!

12/09/2025

You don’t have to be the “strong friend” every day.
You don’t have to carry everything in silence.
And you definitely don’t have to do it alone.

There is real courage in softening
In being honest about what hurts,
In asking for support before you reach your limit,
In choosing yourself, even when it feels unfamiliar.

Strength isn’t about holding everything together.
Sometimes it’s about finally letting go of the pressure.

👉🏾 Afya Counseling & Wellness Services
A safe space to tell the truth without judgment.

11/28/2025

Sometimes survival mode becomes so familiar that you forget what it feels like to breathe fully.
Life keeps moving, and you show up, but something inside still feels heavy and unspoken.

If this feels true for you…
Your feelings are not an inconvenience.
Your softness is not a burden.
And you deserve support too.

Give yourself a moment today.
A slow breath.
A gentle reminder that you are human before anything else.

📍 Baltimore, Maryland
Afya Counseling and Wellness Services, LLC

11/24/2025

Excited to announce that has been selected to be a part of the newest cohort of the Social Innovation Lab at Johns Hopkins! 🎉

Over the coming months we will receive funding, training, support and mentorship to grow and scale our social impact ventures! Honored to be a part of this dynamic group and excited to see what’s next for us all.

Kitchen Therapy started as a playground for my passions of food, mental health, wellness and culture. As I’ve started to do the work, I recognize how great the need is for accessible mental health care, culturally rooted supports, & safe spaces for healing esp in my dear city of Baltimore. I can’t do it alone! Grateful for the team that saw my vision and their readiness to help me build! Let’s gooooo!

11/24/2025

Feeling deeply grateful for the energy and abundance at this year’s Harvest Festival hosted by at Allen AME Church! 🌾🍲✨

I had the joy of leading a cooking demo using fresh produce grown by our Black farmers — and together we created a comforting harvest soup filled with warmth, nourishment, and community care. We were reminded of the symbolism & intention of each ingredient as they came together to make meal satisfying to the mind and body.

This season invites us to stay rooted, honor the hands that feed us, and remember that abundance grows when we gather together. 🌿

If you weren’t able to grab the recipe at the event, I got you!
— just drop a 🌱 in the comments or send me a message and I’ll share it with you.