LCSW, 25 years of experience
Hi, I’m Maria—a bilingual (English/Spanish) therapist with over 20 years of experience helping individuals find clarity, healing, and resilience through life’s challenges. I became a therapist because I deeply believe in the power of connection and the importance of feeling seen, heard, and understood. My passion for mental health grew from personal experiences and professional work in diverse communities, where I witnessed the strength people carry even in their most difficult moments. I hold a master’s degree in social work and am a licensed clinical social worker. My professional background includes working in outpatient mental health clinics and hospitals, where I’ve supported individuals facing anxiety, depression, parenting stress, identity issues, and relationship difficulties. I have extensive experience working with young adults, adults, and parents—particularly those navigating cultural stressors, life transitions, and caregiver burnout. My approach is warm, collaborative, and rooted in evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness. I tailor treatment to each person’s unique story, helping clients develop healthier thought patterns, regulate emotions, and reconnect with their strengths. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or uncertain, therapy can be a space to feel supported and empowered. I’d be honored to walk alongside you on your path to healing and growth.
You can expect to walk away from our sessions feeling heard, supported, and clearer about what you're going through. We’ll work on building tools to help you manage stress, improve your relationships, and feel more in control of your emotions. Over time, many clients say they feel more confident, less overwhelmed, and better able to handle life’s ups and downs with clarity and self-trust.
My approach is collaborative, practical, and focused on real-life change. I integrate evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and Seeking Safety to help clients reduce anxiety, lift mood, and build healthy coping skills. Sessions are structured but flexible—we balance skill-building with space for processing emotions, so progress feels measurable and personal. Clients often share that they leave sessions with concrete strategies they can use right away—a grounding technique to calm panic, a new perspective on a painful memory, or a clear plan for navigating relationships. I value cultural sensitivity and provide therapy in English and Spanish, ensuring that treatment feels accessible and respectful. My goal is for clients to feel heard, supported, and empowered to create lasting change in their daily lives.
I specialize in supporting adults and adolescents who are ready to make meaningful changes in their lives but may feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, grief, or life transitions. Many of my clients are navigating stressful relationships, adjusting to significant changes such as relocation, incarceration, re-entry, or loss, and want practical tools to feel more grounded and in control. I work well with motivated individuals to understand their patterns, even if they feel stuck or uncertain about where to start. Together, we focus on building coping skills, improving emotional regulation, and strengthening self-confidence so you can manage symptoms, heal from past experiences, and create a more balanced and fulfilling life. I welcome clients from diverse backgrounds and provide therapy in English and Spanish, offering a compassionate and culturally sensitive space for growth.
I have extensive experience using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, and trauma-informed interventions including Seeking Safety, which is designed for individuals coping with trauma and substance use. Over the years, I’ve provided therapy in diverse settings—psychiatric emergency rooms, inpatient units, schools, and private telehealth practice—which has allowed me to adapt these methods to a wide range of needs and life situations. In sessions, I tailor each approach to the client’s goals. For example, CBT helps clients identify and challenge negative thoughts, DBT skills build emotional regulation and distress tolerance, and Seeking Safety provides practical coping strategies for healing from trauma while supporting sobriety. I often combine these methods with mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and behavioral activation to create a comprehensive plan that promotes lasting growth and resilience.