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LMFT

Maria Ward, LMFT

  • Experience13 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, and Anger
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • LanguagesEnglish and Spanish
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About Maria

Maria Ward brings 13 years of clinical experience to her California practice, working with adults facing stress, anxiety, mood challenges, trauma and abuse, and difficulties with relationships and parenting.

Background and approach

She approaches clients with a collaborative stance that honors each person as the expert on their own life while offering practical tools and skills to cope with intense emotions, addictive patterns, grief, and life transitions. Her background includes training in trauma-focused care and a range of therapeutic models that she draws on to meet individual needs.

Maria emphasizes building a supportive therapeutic relationship, listening closely to clients' goals, and tailoring interventions to address issues such as anger, depression, intimacy concerns, eating and body image struggles, ADHD-related challenges, and caregiver or compassion fatigue. She provides services in both English and Spanish and accepts international clients, offering flexible session formats to fit different schedules and preferences.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online care

Maria commonly integrates Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Attachment-Based perspectives into her work. Internal Family Systems helps clients notice and relate to the different parts of themselves - the protective, wounded, and healthy parts - to reduce internal conflict and increase self-leadership. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on clarifying values and building willingness to experience difficult feelings while taking meaningful action toward life goals. Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns formed in early relationships to improve connection, emotional regulation, and interpersonal trust.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Maria partners with clients to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting interventions as understanding deepens during therapy. This flexible stance allows exploration of what helps most rather than applying a single technique by default.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for busy lives through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These formats increase accessibility and scheduling flexibility, allowing people to continue therapy from different locations and to use communication styles that feel most comfortable while progressing toward their therapeutic goals.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Maria address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, addictions, relationship and family concerns, grief, intimacy issues, eating and body image struggles, parenting difficulties, ADHD, bipolar mood shifts, and coping with life changes.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and client-centered, prioritizing the client's expertise about their own life while introducing practical tools to manage emotions and behavior.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Maria has 13 years of professional work experience supporting people with trauma, mood concerns, relationship challenges, and related issues.
What credentials and location are on file?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist holding CA LMFT 98143 and practices from California.
In which languages can clients work with her and can international clients schedule?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available for appointments?
Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and availability.
How are costs and payment structured?
Fees vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a time based on therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseAnger managementDepression

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

13+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English, Spanish