Maria Ward
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
About Maria
As a licensed therapist in California, I bring over a decade of experience supporting individuals through complex emotional landscapes. My practice centers on helping clients navigate challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions with compassion and unconditional regard.
I specialize in working with diverse populations, offering culturally responsive care that honors each person’s unique experiences. My approach is deeply empathetic, focusing on areas such as self-love, communication, social connections, and personal growth. I’m particularly committed to supporting people of various backgrounds, with respect, compassion, self love, acceptance, validation which are universal traits. The journey of healing is for anyone who whishes to walk the path, I will be there for you, I am here to support you, meet you where you need me to meet you.
My therapeutic style integrates evidence-based practices to help clients develop resilience, heal from past wounds, and cultivate meaningful life strategies. Whether you’re struggling with mood disorders, relationship dynamics, or personal transformation, I’m dedicated to walking alongside, with genuine understanding and professional guidance. Never under estimate your own personal growth, value your unique qualities, I am here to support you with acceptance and unconditional regard and respect of your needs.
I believe in creating a safe, affirming space where you can explore your experiences, validate your own reality, integrate experiences that might had been put to the side and reconnect with your inherent strengths. Together, we’ll work collaboratively to support your emotional well-being and personal empowerment. Remember, I am here for you, this place is for you and you alone.
What Maria helps with
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
Show 46 more areas
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
How Maria works
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Internal Family Systems
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
What clients say
- “I would highly recommend Maria Ward. She is fluent in English and Spanish which is very helpful when you’re a bilingual person yourself. She validates me feelings. She is a very good listener and gives you honest truth. She has given hard advice in a very professional manner.”
- “I need someone other than family or friends to talk too. Maria had assisted me work out my feelings in a very positive way. I am grateful.”
- “She cares about finding where my feelings are coming from and listens to me 100%.”
Show all 15 reviews
- “I’m thankful for my session with Maria she provided perspective that I needed to learn.”
- “Maria is always listening and asks amazing questions to get me to look at a different perspective of myself during the healing process. She is wonderful.”
- “I love that Ms Maria is bilingual! It has helped me tremendously and has effectively communicated my feelings and concerns. She is able to help me sort through my feelings in a way that my partner can understand. She is neutral when it comes to listening to both my spouse and I when it comes to our conflicts. She validates our feelings and validates that our differences in opinion is something that can strengthen our relationship.”
- “Maria is patient, very kind and caring. She makes me feel comfortable.”
- “After one session I feel well listened to and rudimentary understanding of me which impressive in a 45 minute time period.”
- “Maria is an excellent therapist. I truly appreciate her expertise, patience and dedication.”
- “We've had a wonderful experience working with Maria.She has been consistently professional, clear and prompt in their communication, and flexible and accommodating with scheduling. Her thoughtful approach has made a positive impact on our relationship so far. Highly recommend!”
- “We love Maria she's awesome!”
- “so far WONDERFUL”
- “Very respectful and professional, listens well and has amazing feedback.”
- “Was all that we can ask for in a therapist, offered some great insights on how to approach life in a healthier way. Would recommend!”
- “She’s a good therapist and a really nice therapist she helps me all the time.”
These reviews represent a few of the most recent positive reviews from the therapist's clients on BetterHelp. Some people's experience may be different.
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