Maria Dias , LCSW

Maria Dias is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 18 years of experience offering psychotherapy rooted in both formal training and ongoing professional development. She holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Rutgers University with a double major in Psychology and Social Work, and a Master of Social Work from New York University. As an LCSW, Maria is a master's-level clinician trained to assess and treat a wide range of mental health and relational concerns.

Maria kept expanding her skills with post-graduate training focused on clinical work with adolescents and their families using evidence-based interventions, psychoanalytic study, hypnotherapy, and specialized methods for treating panic and anxiety. These additional trainings inform a flexible practice that draws from multiple modalities rather than applying a single theoretical model to every person.

With an appreciation for both shared human experience and individual differences, Maria emphasizes getting to know each person before settling on a course of treatment. She offers an eclectic, client-centered approach that supports exploration of hopes, fears, and goals at a pace that fits each individual. Throughout the work she aims to create a non-judgmental space where people can set goals and build practical skills to manage stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, grief, parenting issues, and other life transitions.

Approaches Maria Uses for Online Therapy

Maria integrates Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and hypnotherapy into her online practice to address a variety of concerns. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a supportive, empathic relationship where the therapist follows the client's lead to promote self-understanding and personal growth; it is useful for people seeking a reflective, strengths-based process.

CBT involves identifying and gently challenging unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior, then practicing alternative strategies; it is often effective for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to access resources for managing symptoms such as panic, anxiety, and habit-related issues, and it is offered as an adjunctive tool when appropriate.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Maria works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and she adapts methods so therapy feels like a good fit rather than a predetermined protocol.

Online therapy with a licensed professional offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video call, over the phone, via live chat, or through text-based messaging. These options help people fit therapy into busy lives, maintain continuity of care across locations within the therapist's service area, and access consistent support when managing day-to-day challenges.