LMFT, 8 years of experience
Hello there, welcome to my page! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I I have a Master in Clinical Counseling Psychology with emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in California where I am based. I’m a dedicated psychotherapist committed to supporting individuals on their journey towards mental and emotional wellness. With 8 years of experience in this practice. I’ve had the great privilege of helping clients navigate through life’s challenges, fostering resilience, and facilitating positive transformations. My approach to therapy is rooted in empathy, active listening, and creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I specialize in anxiety, relationships, life transitions and trauma, using evidence-based techniques tailored to each individual’s unique needs. I believe in the power of collaboration, working alongside my clients to identify strengths and empower them to achieve their personal goals. Whether you’re facing difficulties, seeking personal growth, or aiming to improve your overall well-being, I’m here to provide compassionate support and guidance throughout your therapeutic journey.
In the initial session clients can expect an introduction phase aimed at understanding their motivations for seeking therapy, exploring their current challenges or triggers, and identifying their personal expectations from the therapy process. We'll delve into why this moment feels important for them and what drove them to seek therapy now. Together, we'll outline their objectives and craft specific goals that align with their aspirations for personal growth. Collaboratively, we'll design a roadmap that outlines the steps and strategies we'll employ in subsequent sessions to work towards achieving those mutually agreed-upon goals. This initial phase sets the foundation for our therapeutic journey and ensures a tailored approach that meets their unique needs and aspirations.
As a psychotherapist, one of my greatest strengths lies in my insightfulness and my ability to quickly grasp the broader context of my clients' situations. My extensive experience in understanding family dynamics provides a solid foundation for navigating complex interpersonal relationships. Also, my capacity to hold space for emotional and psychological distress creates a safe environment for clients to explore their challenges freely. My blend of diverse human experiences and professional skills allows me to create a supportive atmosphere where clients can generally dive into their issues comfortably. My multicultural background offers multiple lenses through which I view situations, enriching my ability to offer varied perspectives. This diverse viewpoint enables me to navigate through layers of complexity, allowing me to efficiently reach the core of my clients' concerns and address them effectively.
I really enjoy working with clients who have a willingness to engage in self-exploration, have a desire for personal growth, and are committed to improving their lives. They value understanding themselves better and are open to exploring various aspects of their lives within the therapeutic process. Individuals who are motivated to actively participate and invest effort into their personal development would likely benefit from working with me.
I am a trained Attachment Based Psychoherapist and I utilize this method by applying the lens of attachment theory to identify early childhood unmet needs and help clients that have a history of difficult interpersonal relationships rebuild trust in relationships and learn how to meet those needs.
I studied at Pacifica Graduate Institute which is a Jungian school and I generally utilize a psychodynamic approach, in the sense that my work is focused on helping my clients make contact with their internal and unconscious world so that they can resolve unconscious conflicts driving their symptoms. With this technique we can get to the roots of our emotional sufferings by bringing awareness to our defense mechanisms and triggers as we learn new ways to address our struggles.
As a multicultural informed psychotherapist, my approach to treatment is deeply rooted in recognizing and valuing the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of my clients. I understand the significance of considering a client's cultural, ethnic, religious, and social background when providing therapy. By embracing a multicultural perspective, I strive to create a therapeutic environment that respects and acknowledges the client's unique worldview. This involves actively listening and understanding their cultural context, beliefs, and values, which greatly influence their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. I incorporate elements from various cultural frameworks into my therapeutic techniques, ensuring that my interventions are sensitive and relevant to each individual's background. This might involve utilizing culturally specific metaphors, rituals, or practices that resonate with the client's cultural heritage.
4 ratings with written reviews
July 16, 2025
Maria has been a lifesaver (literally). Working with her, I've gained insights and understanding about my past. More importantly, she's helped me leave previous issues behind and focus on the way forward. I'm feeling so much more optimistic about my future possibilities.
July 3, 2025
I chose Maria at random and am convinced that it was meant to be. Over the years I have had a number of therapists and Maria combins the best attributes of all of them. I am making more and faster progress than I ever have before.
July 2, 2025
Maria has changed the way I see therapy, I always looked at therapy as talking out my frustrations. She is the first therapist that actually makes me work on myself and has the skills to challenge me in a kind, and authentic way. I've worked with her for about a year, and have been able to peel back several layers. She helps me take responsibility/accountability to enact change for the better and get to the root of issues.