Hello! My name is Maria Ruiz, and I would like to introduce myself as a motivated and dedicated professional who is passionate about helping others create balanced, fulfilling, and safe lives. Throughout my eleven years of counseling experience, I have worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. I have supported clients as they navigate their healing journeys through grief related to loss, relationship challenges, trauma, and other significant life events. I have extensive experience working with survivors of domestic violence, helping them rebuild their lives, rediscover their identity, and establish a sense of safety, empowerment, and self-worth. I have also guided individuals in exploring and managing depression, anxiety, and anger, fostering greater self-awareness and strengthening their ability to take control of their lives. As a clinician, I bring passion, empathy, energy, and honesty to the therapeutic relationship. My approach is warm, genuine, and collaborative while also providing thoughtful guidance and reflection. I believe in walking alongside my clients as they build on their strengths, overcome challenges, and work toward achieving their personal goals. I look forward to supporting you on your journey toward growth, healing, and well-being.
Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and determine whether we are a good fit. I strongly believe that a successful therapeutic relationship is built on trust, safety, honesty, and mutual respect. It is important that you feel comfortable and supported as we begin working together. During this session, I will review the information you provided during the intake process and ask additional questions to gain a deeper understanding of your experiences, concerns, goals, and expectations for treatment. This helps me develop a clearer picture of how I can best support you. We will also discuss my therapeutic approach, treatment modalities, and what you can expect from our work together. I encourage you to ask questions at any time, whether about therapy, my style as a clinician, or the counseling process itself. My goal is to create an open and collaborative environment that helps establish a strong therapeutic relationship from the start. By the end of our first session, we will have begun identifying your goals and discussing a path forward that aligns with your needs, strengths, and hopes for growth and healing.
In my eleven years as a therapist, I have worked with children, teens, and adults in individual, family, and group counseling settings. This broad range of experience allows me to understand and adapt to the unique needs of each client. I have worked extensively with clients struggling with depression, helping them navigate feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and lack of motivation. I also support clients with anxiety by challenging cognitive distortions and addressing the fears that often prevent them from reaching their goals. In family therapy, I help strengthen relationships, improve communication, and break down barriers that interfere with healthy connections. Additionally, I have significant experience working with severe trauma, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and domestic violence. My approach is supportive, direct, and compassionate, creating a safe space for clients to heal, grow, and recognize their own strengths while working toward meaningful change.
I am best positioned to serve individuals, adolescents, adults, and families who are seeking support through life's challenges and are ready to better understand themselves. Many of my clients struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, or the effects of abuse and unhealthy family dynamics. I work well with clients who may feel stuck, overwhelmed, hopeless, or uncertain about how to move forward. Together, we explore patterns, build insight, develop healthy coping skills, and create meaningful goals for growth and healing. My approach is supportive, direct, and collaborative, providing a safe space for clients who are ready to make positive changes and work toward a healthier, more balanced life.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
With eleven years of experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I work collaboratively with clients to build awareness around behavioral patterns, challenge unhelpful thinking, and take practical steps toward lasting change. I help individuals recognize the triggers that lead to emotional distress and anxiety, often uncovering deeper trauma beneath those responses. In our work together, we explore these experiences with compassion, developing the resilience and grit needed to move through discomfort and into growth. I believe in the power of therapy to not only heal but to empower clients in building lives that align with their values and strengths.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
In addition to CBT, I incorporate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support clients in expanding their awareness of emotional responses and building a broader set of coping tools. DBT offers valuable skills such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance, which help clients recognize they have options in how they respond to challenges. I encourage practices like mindful awareness and meaningful hobbies to support self-care and emotional balance. By learning to think more rationally and applying techniques like the “wise mind,” clients gain clarity, self-compassion, and a greater sense of control in their healing process.
Psychoeducation
In all of my approaches, I prioritize psychoeducation as an essential tool for empowering clients. By teaching clients about the “why” and “how” behind their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, I help them better understand themselves and their reactions. This education not only reduces the stigma surrounding mental health but also provides clients with the knowledge they need to respond more calmly and thoughtfully in challenging situations. With this understanding, they can approach their healing with greater confidence, recognizing that emotional struggles are manageable and within their control.