- Emotion-focused work
- ACT and CBT strategies
- English and Spanish
About Maria
Maria Ward is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 13 years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, and addictions. She also helps with relationship concerns, parenting challenges, grief, intimacy questions, self-esteem, and career issues.
She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Sessions focus on emotions, attachment patterns, and practical skills that can change how people relate to themselves and others. Maria emphasizes listening and collaborative problem solving rather than lecturing.
Clients can expect clear, direct conversations about what matters most to them. She offers tools for managing mood shifts, impulsive behaviors, and stress reactions. For people coping with adoption, abandonment, caregiving strain, or body image concerns, sessions address specific challenges and steps forward.
Her background includes work with people affected by domestic violence, substance use, disruptive mood symptoms, and compassion fatigue. She draws on attachment-based ideas when exploring how early experiences shape current patterns. Maria also integrates client-centered practices to keep sessions focused on the client’s priorities.
She speaks English and Spanish and works with people across different life stages. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Costs vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How her approaches translate to online work
Maria uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help people notice and name strong emotions and attachment patterns that affect relationships and interactions. EFT often focuses on feelings and how they shape responses, which can be discussed and practiced in sessions to change repetitive patterns.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify values and take small, concrete steps toward them while learning to live with difficult thoughts and feelings. Attachment-Based Therapy guides conversations about how early relationships influence current behavior and expectations in close connections.
Choosing the right approach is part of the therapy process. Maria works collaboratively with clients to try methods that fit their goals, preferences, and real-life needs. She adjusts pacing and homework so the work feels manageable and relevant.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. For some people not wanting to be on camera, other formats may be possible; check the session options when you schedule to find what fits your routine and comfort.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy-related problems, eating concerns, parenting, self-esteem, career stress, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and more.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her approach centers on emotionally-focused work and attachment-based ideas, paired with ACT and CBT tools to help with thinking patterns and behavior changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 13 years of professional experience providing therapy in a variety of settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California LMFT and practices from California.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Does she work with international clients?
She accepts international clients.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.