LCSW, 5 years of experience
Hi, I'm Saray Maldonado, LCSW Helping individuals and families heal, grow, and reclaim their lives. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience supporting people through life’s most challenging and transformative experiences. I currently work in a residential treatment facility, where I assist individuals in both substance use recovery and mental health stabilization. I provide clients with practical tools to build long-term wellness and emotional strength. My approach is trauma-informed and client-centered, focusing on the deeper roots of distress rather than just managing surface-level symptoms. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of clinical settings—including schools, psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, and residential programs—allowing me to support individuals with a broad spectrum of mental health concerns. I’ve had the privilege of working with children, teens, and adults facing everything from acute crises to long-standing emotional challenges. This has strengthened my ability to adapt to each person’s unique needs and guide them toward meaningful, sustainable growth. While I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, and substance use, my experience spans a wide range of emotional and behavioral health issues. I support clients coping with trauma, mood disorders, life transitions, stress, self-esteem issues, relationship struggles, and more. My therapeutic approach is both compassionate and structured, blending evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, mindfulness, and somatic therapy. I help clients reconnect with themselves, build resilience, and develop healthier ways of relating to others and the world around them.
Our first session is a space for you to share what’s bringing you to therapy, in your own words and at your own pace. I’ll ask questions to better understand what you’re facing and what your goals are. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that reflects your needs and priorities, so that our work is purposeful, grounded, and tailored to your growth.
My greatest strengths as a therapist are empathy, clarity, and a deep respect for each person’s unique process. I bring warmth, presence, and structure to sessions, helping clients feel both supported and challenged in a way that fosters growth. With a strong foundation in trauma-informed care, I hold space for complexity while helping clients find their own strengths and inner stability.
I’m best positioned to work with teens and adults who are experiencing a wide range of emotional and mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, substance use, trauma, stress, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed. I work especially well with individuals who are ready to reflect on their patterns, learn new coping tools, and move toward lasting, meaningful change in their lives and relationships.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns that affect their self-image and mindset, aiming to improve their quality of life and reduce emotional distress.
I use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to help individuals manage intense emotions, reduce distress during crises, and improve coping skills.
I use Narrative Therapy to help individuals explore and reframe their life stories, particularly when negative perceptions from trauma or significant life events contribute to emotional distress and depression.
I use an integrated trauma-informed approach combining somatic therapy, mindfulness, and EMDR to help clients heal at the root of their trauma. Somatic techniques increase safety in the body and reduce anxiety by strengthening the mind-body connection. EMDR targets and processes traumatic memories, supporting clients to feel more grounded, present, and resilient.