Maria Ward
Compassionate therapist focused on practical change
LMFT California
- Experience
- 13 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger
- Approaches
- Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
About Maria
Maria Ward is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people manage stress, anxiety, and the fallout of trauma. She brings 13 years of experience and a straightforward, caring approach to sessions.
Background and approach
She speaks English and Spanish and works with adults from many backgrounds. Maria focuses on practical tools you can use between sessions.
She listens to each person's story and helps identify strengths to build on. Together she and the client set goals and try techniques that fit daily life.
Her background includes work with mood disorders, depression, bipolar challenges, and grief. She also supports people facing relationship strains, parenting challenges, codependency, and substance use concerns.
Maria has experience addressing attachment issues, abandonment, blended family dynamics, and caregiver stress. Therapeutically she draws on methods that emphasize values, thought patterns, and emotional connection.
Maria uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take meaningful steps. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot unhelpful thinking and shift behaviors.
Maria values collaboration and clear communication in sessions. She aims to make the process approachable and practical.
Clients can expect a steady, nonjudgmental presence while learning tools for change.
Approach and online care that fit your life
Maria uses the Gottman Method to help people improve communication and reduce recurring conflict by focusing on practical interaction patterns and emotional connection. Gottman-informed work aims to increase understanding and rebuild trust in close relationships.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps people clarify personal values and take meaningful steps even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is another tool she uses to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors that lead to better mood and functioning.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Maria collaborates with each person to decide which methods match their needs, goals, and preferences. She checks progress and adjusts the plan as therapy unfolds so the work stays useful and relevant.
Online sessions offer flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for deeper check-ins and visual cues, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, live chat supports shorter exchanges, and messaging lets clients check in between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and different life demands.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish