LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER

Maria is a bicultural/bilingual, Spanish-speaking psychotherapist, whose work for the past two decades has included working with various populations and ethnic groups. From doing outreach with the homeless, to collaborating with DPSS/Children Protective Services in Family Reunification, to working in sexual assault & domestic violence programs in community mental health, she has had vast experience treating a variety of mental health issues. Nowadays, she prefers to work with adults 18+ experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, interpersonal conflicts, complex family dynamics and problems adjusting to life transitions. She is also very familiar with the struggles of Latino immigrant families as well as with the challenges of military life. 

 She has training in suicide risk assessment & management, as well as in Seeking Safety and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She operates from a trauma-informed lens and listens for ways that any past traumas and/or attachment disruptions may be impacting current functioning. Her areas of expertise include working with the Latino population, 1st & 2nd generation immigrants as well as with adult survivors of childhood abuse & trauma. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) from California State University, Los Angeles, and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) with a Mental Health Concentration, from San Diego State University. Her background in social work informs her perspective as a therapist and shapes her work, as she sees each person within the larger context of family, culture, and society to best understand their needs. She obtained her clinical license in 2010 through the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).