Maya Lopez
I believe therapy should feel human first. A space where you can show up authentically, feel genuinely understood, and find moments of humor alongside the harder work. As a bilingual, multicultural Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience, I bring warmth, curiosity, authenticity, and a deep commitment to community. My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed, and rooted in understanding the whole person. I recognize how our identities, relationships, cultures, lived experiences, and larger systems shape our emotional well-being. I am especially mindful of intersectionality, systemic oppression, and the lasting impacts of intergenerational trauma.
Come as you are. We’ll figure out the rest together. Ven como eres. Lo demás lo vamos descubriendo juntos.
I have extensive experience supporting LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, first-generation individuals, and people from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds. I support individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, caregiving stress, relationship challenges, and questions of identity and belonging. Therapy with me can be practical and goal-oriented while remaining flexible to your needs. Sometimes we focus on developing tools, exploring patterns, or creating meaningful change. Other times, healing simply means having space to feel, reflect, and be witnessed without judgment or pressure to have everything figured out. While I take this work seriously, I believe therapy doesn't always have to feel heavy. Humor, when appropriate, can create connection and make room to breathe. Above all, I see the person before the diagnosis or label. My goal is to create a safe, genuine, and supportive relationship where you feel respected, empowered, and free to move at your own pace.
First session
Our first session is really about getting to know each other. Just two humans meeting, having a conversation, and seeing if I feel like the right fit for you. Therapy is a relationship, and it's important that you feel comfortable, safe, and connected. We'll have some structure, including reviewing confidentiality, informed consent, and what to expect from therapy, but I'll explain things as we go. There won't be any pressure to share more than you're ready for. We'll explore what brings you in, what you're hoping for, and what support might look like. We can move as quickly or slowly as you need, making room for questions, curiosity, and even a little humor. Above all, our first session is about creating a foundation of trust, connection, and understanding. You get to show up exactly as you are.
Strengths
What sets me apart as a practitioner is the combination of my lived experiences, cultural understanding, and over 15 years of working alongside diverse communities. I bring my whole, authentic self into the therapeutic space, balancing warmth, humor, curiosity, and clinical knowledge. As a bilingual, multicultural therapist, I understand that healing doesn't happen in isolation. Our identities, relationships, communities, and the systems we navigate all shape our experiences. I approach therapy through an intersectional, trauma-informed lens, recognizing the importance of challenging conditioned norms, honoring cultural differences, and breaking intergenerational cycles. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach or that therapy always needs to feel clinical or heavy. I value genuine human connection, collaboration, and creating space for both meaningful change and simply being heard. Above all, I see people as whole human beings, not diagnoses or labels. I strive to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are, feel understood without judgment, and explore what healing looks like on your own terms.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is someone seeking a genuine, supportive space to explore identity, navigate life's challenges, and break free from conditioned expectations or generational patterns. I'm especially passionate about supporting diverse and historically marginalized communities. You don't need to have it all figured out, just a willingness to show up as you are. Together, we'll make room for growth, healing, authenticity, and a little humor along the way.
Origin story
I was drawn to therapy through recognizing the gaps in my own experiences and within the communities I’m part of. I wanted to help create spaces that challenge conditioned norms, break cycles of generational trauma, and make room for healing, connection, and more authentic ways of being.
Ongoing work together
Our ongoing work will be collaborative, flexible, and centered around what matters most to you. We'll check in regularly, using your goals and hoped-for outcomes to help guide our focus while making room for whatever life brings along the way. Some sessions may focus on building and practicing skills, exploring patterns, or working toward meaningful change. Others may simply be a space to process, reflect, and feel heard. We'll revisit goals as needed, celebrate growth, and adjust our approach together. Therapy doesn't have to follow a rigid path. It's about finding a balance between intentional work and genuine human connection, moving at a pace that feels right for you.
Treatment methods
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I approach culturally responsive care with curiosity, humility, and an understanding that no two people experience the world in the same way. I recognize how culture, identity, family, community, and systemic experiences shape our understanding of mental health, healing, and belonging. Rather than making assumptions, I invite you to share what matters most to you and how your lived experiences influence your needs and goals. I strive to honor cultural strengths, challenge conditioned norms, and recognize the impacts of systemic and intergenerational trauma. Above all, I believe culturally responsive care is an ongoing practice of listening, learning, reflecting, and adapting. My goal is to create a space where all parts of your identity are welcomed, respected, and genuinely understood.
Psychodynamic
I use psychodynamic therapy to help explore how past experiences, relationships, family dynamics, and learned patterns influence how we see ourselves and navigate the world today. Together, we can gently identify recurring themes, unconscious beliefs, and ways of coping that may have once served a purpose but no longer feel helpful. I approach this work with curiosity, compassion, and an awareness of how culture, identity, and intergenerational experiences shape our lives. My goal isn't to dwell on the past, but to better understand its impact on the present, creating space for greater self-awareness, healing, and meaningful change. We move at your pace, balancing deeper exploration with practical tools and support for what you're experiencing in the here and now.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help individuals better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors, particularly when navigating anxiety. Together, we explore patterns such as overthinking, worst-case scenarios, self-criticism, and avoidance that may contribute to feeling overwhelmed or stuck. My approach focuses on building practical tools to challenge unhelpful thought patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and gradually build confidence in managing anxiety. I also incorporate grounding, nervous system regulation, and mindfulness to support emotional and physical well-being. Rather than simply encouraging positive thinking, my goal is to help you develop a more compassionate, balanced relationship with your thoughts while creating meaningful, sustainable change at a pace that feels right for you.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 135563