Maria Ward , LMFT

Maria Ward is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 13 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and brings specific training in Trauma Focus - a trauma treatment modality designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.

Her experience includes supporting parents and families through parenting challenges, blended family dynamics, and caregiving stress, as well as assisting individuals managing anger, depression, mood shifts, addictions, and relationship difficulties. She also addresses issues such as grief, intimacy concerns, self-esteem struggles, career transitions, and adjustment to life changes.

Maria approaches therapy from a collaborative stance, viewing each person as the expert of their own story and building on existing strengths to foster growth. She aims to provide practical tools and compassionate support while listening and partnering with clients to set and reach meaningful goals. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she offers services to clients who prefer either language and emphasizes that taking the first step toward therapy is a courageous and important move toward change.

Therapeutic approaches and what online therapy offers

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and take meaningful action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise. It is often useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions where shifting toward what matters matters more than eliminating discomfort.

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape present-day connection patterns. It can support those dealing with intimacy concerns, relationship conflicts, abandonment themes, or family and parenting challenges by strengthening emotional bonds and improving communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Maria collaborates with each person to identify methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. She works together with clients to tailor interventions and adjust as progress unfolds.

Online therapy provides flexible ways to engage - through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - so people can fit care into busy lives, access support from different locations, and choose the format that feels most comfortable. Licensed professionals can use these options to maintain consistent contact, adapt session styles, and help clients apply skills between appointments.