Maria Ward, LMFT
Therapist in California
Maria Ward is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 13 years of experience.
- Licensed inCalifornia
- License98143
- NPI 1184932006
- Experience13+ years
- LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Maria
Maria Ward is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with 13 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship struggles. She also supports those dealing with addiction, anger, grief, and life changes.
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. Maria frames therapy as collaborative work. She listens first and helps people name what matters most.
She uses clear, practical tools so clients can try new ways of coping between sessions.
Background and approach
The goal is to build on strengths people already have while addressing patterns that cause pain. Her clinical approach draws from attachment-based ideas and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at how relationships and early bonds shape feelings today. Maria also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and cognitive behavioral strategies to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and act with intention.
She combines these methods to fit each person’s needs rather than following a single script. Many people come for parenting stress, communication problems, body image or caregiver strain. She also works with concerns like ADHD, bipolar mood shifts, and addiction where clearer routines and behavior changes help.
Maria pays attention to how past losses, abandonment, or changes in family structure affect daily life. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions. Therapy sessions can be video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, which gives options for different schedules and preferences.
Credentials
- LMFT (California)
- License 98143 · expires May 2026
- NPI
- 1184932006 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the therapist lists and checks neither.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Maria lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
- Depression
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- 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
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Maria names
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How attachment and acceptance work online
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current feelings and patterns. In sessions this means talking about trust, closeness, and how people respond when they feel threatened, which can help with intimacy, abandonment concerns, and relationship stress.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, encourages noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choosing actions that match personal values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes by building small, value-driven steps.
Maria approaches therapy as a collaborative process. She will help clients try different approaches and decide together which methods fit best with their goals and daily life. That shared plan is adjusted over time so clients feel the work is relevant and doable.
Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy schedules or limited local options. Video calls let people see facial cues and work through relationship topics visually, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or a brief check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging allow for shorter, more frequent touchpoints, moment-to-moment support, and written reflections between sessions. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent and tailored to how someone prefers to connect.
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Frequently asked
What kinds of problems does she address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, addictions, and relationship concerns, along with parenting and caregiving stress.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She listens, helps people set goals, and teaches skills to manage emotions and change behaviors.
How much experience does she have?
She has 13 years of professional experience working with a wide range of concerns including mood issues, trauma, and addiction.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT - licensed in California.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She accepts international clients, so people located outside the United States can connect for therapy.
What session formats does she use?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexible ways to meet.
How are fees and scheduling handled?
Cost varies with location and is billed through a cancellable subscription. To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on therapist availability.
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