- Client-centered care
- CBT and DBT skills
- Motivational interviewing
About Maria
Maria Magdalena Rivera is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with six years of professional experience. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, self-esteem struggles, and life changes. Maria also addresses chronic pain and illness, codependency, communication problems, drug and alcohol addiction, guilt and shame, midlife crisis, self-harm, self-love, and young adult issues.
She favors plain conversation and practical steps in sessions. Maria uses client-centered methods to listen and help people name what matters most to them. She draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to notice thoughts that fuel worry and unhelpful habits. Mindfulness and dialectical behavior techniques are used to build emotional regulation and reduce impulsive reactions.
Sessions aim to clarify goals and try small, doable changes between meetings. Maria often uses motivational interviewing to help people find reasons to change and to keep going when progress feels slow. She explains ideas in simple terms and checks in about what is working for each person.
Her background includes hands-on work with stress, addiction recovery, grief, and shifts in identity that come with life transitions. The LMFT credential indicates licensure in California. Maria speaks English and works with adults seeking help with guilt, shame, and related concerns.
People who come to her can expect straightforward conversation, focused skills practice, and collaborative planning. Before booking, confirm current session options and practical details through the platform's scheduling flow.
How her approaches translate to online work
Maria uses client-centered therapy to listen closely and form clear goals with each person. This approach focuses on the client's own priorities and lets sessions follow what matters most. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is used to spot and change patterns of thinking and behavior that keep guilt and anxiety active. CBT often involves simple exercises and practice between sessions.She may also draw on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills to help with emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT provides concrete tools for handling intense feelings and reducing impulsive reactions, which can be useful when shame or self-blame feels overwhelming. Choosing which methods to use is collaborative; she works with clients to find the best fit based on needs, goals, and preferences.
Confirm the current session formats before booking, since the profile does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, keep regular check-ins, or do shorter meetings when schedules are tight. Discuss scheduling and any practical preferences during the initial matching questionnaire and first session so therapy suits everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include chronic pain and illness, codependency, communication problems, and guilt and shame.
How would she approach shame or guilt?
She combines client-centered listening with CBT techniques to identify thought patterns that keep shame alive. Skills from DBT and mindfulness are used to manage strong emotions that follow guilt.
How much experience does she have?
She has six years of professional experience working with the concerns listed in her profile.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She holds the LMFT credential and is licensed in California as an LMFT.
Can I meet with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats does she offer?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the profile does not list specific formats. Check the scheduling flow for up-to-date details.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Check the platform's pricing details for exact rates.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.