Licensed to practice in California and accepts 72 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Parenting, Women's Issues and 10 more.

Maria E Ordunez-Lara

LMFT, 8 years of experience

Often rebooked

Warm
Authentic
Empowering
VirtualAvailable

Hi I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in California. I received my Masters for Antioch University Santa Barbara, California and have been practicing for 15 years in the mental health field with a background in Addiction. My passion (and purpose) is to help my clients navigate through Life transitions (job changes, divorce, relationship issues, grief, etc.) and help them develop skills to cope with these changes. My goal is to support clients in identifying their unique gifts and abilities to help them achieve their goal, discover their authentic selves, and learn to navigate the day-to-day challenges of living in this ever-changing world.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Welcome, My name is Maria As a clinician, I provide a safe space to explore your reasons for seeking therapy and help bring out the strengths and resources that already exist inside you to further your life satisfaction. Taking that first step is the beginning of a healing and expansive journey. Together, we will identify your challenges and goals. Then, we'll identify options and strategies you can use to get there. Together, we can help you get from where you are to where you want to be at your pace. I'm here whenever you are ready to begin.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

I provide a safe space, compassionate care with a collaborative approach to healing; your voice, your story, your journey. I will support you one step at a time in developing a plan that will empower you in navigating Life's challenges. My client's become empowered to make decisions based on their values to improve their mental health and well being.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I like to work with women/individuals who are seeking support as they are going through Life transitions whether it be a Divorce, New Parent, Job change, relationship issues, parenting struggles and feel stuck and overwhelmed. Increasing self-awareness, learning coping skills, and communicating feelings can lead to positive change and meaningful relationships.

Specialties

Top specialties

Anxiety

Other specialties

Addiction

Depression

Grief

Self Esteem

Trauma and PTSD

I identify as

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Cash - $150 per session

Aetna

Aetna - Allied Benefits

Aetna - ASR Health Benefits

Aetna - Luminare

Aetna - Medicare

Aetna - Moda

Aetna - WebTPA

Aetna – HealthEZ

All Savers

Amerihealth Administrators

Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage

Anthem

Arlo

AvMed

Blue Cross

Blue Shield

Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal

Blue Shield of California - Medicare

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Medi-Cal)

CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)

Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)

Centivo

Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)

Cigna

Cigna - HealthEZ

Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)

EAP:Cigna

EAP:Evernorth

EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum

Evernorth

Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)

Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)

Golden Rule

GTEB

Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare

Health Net (Commercial)

Health Net (Medi-Cal)

Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal

Humana - Medicare

Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)

IHSS Healthy Workers

Independence Administrators

Independence Blue Cross

Independence Keystone 65 HMO

Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO

L.A. Care Covered

L.A. Care Covered Direct

L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)

L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)

L.A. Care PASC-SEIU

Optum

OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions

Oscar

Oxford

Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)

San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)

Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal

Scripps Health Plan

SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)

Sharp Health Plan

Surest (formerly Bind)

Sutter Health Plan

Tufts Health/Cigna

United Medical Resources

UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)

UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)

UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance

UnitedHealthcare Shared Services

UnitedHealthcare StudentResources

UnitedHealthcare/Optum

UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I have been using CBT for the past 15 years. Client's learn to challenge negative reoccurring thoughts which is helpful in managing their anxiety. We will use CBT to recognize how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors have an effect on each other. We will use that knowledge to change your thinking patterns and teach coping strategies to support in reducing your anxiety and stress.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

I have utilized Mindfulness to support clients with becoming more aware of themselves and their environment in effort to increase compassion for oneself breaking away from negative thoughts and patterns. Mindfulness techniques support in decreasing anxiety

Positive Psychology

I believe in the importance of focusing on one's personal strengths which can increase happiness and well being in developing skills to increase positivity. I will support you in developing an optimistic and positive attitude which can have a significant impact on mental and physical health.

Solution Focused Brief Treatment

I have utilized Solution Focused Therapy with many client's who were focused on developing goals and solutions to one's problems by emphasizing one's strengths and future possibilities. I will help you identify what is working well and building upon those aspects.

Strength-Based

I will support client in identifying their positive qualities, skills and resilience in effort to empower client to take ownership of their strengths and assist them in solving their problems.

, 47 ratings

8 ratings with written reviews

June 2, 2026

She was not helpful at all, did not retain information, talked over me, and almost got up during our session while im in crisis.

Verified client, age 35-44
Review shared after session 1 with Maria

February 13, 2026

Maria is very comfortable to talk to and listened to my issues and gave me great suggestions.

Verified client, age 55-64
Review shared after session 1 with Maria

September 26, 2025

It was easy to have a conversation with her, it was not judgmental.

Verified client, age 35-44
Review shared after session 1 with Maria