- CBT methods
- Solution focused
- Mindfulness practice
About Maria
Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto is a Florida LCSW with 20 years of experience working in hospitals, health centers, and private agencies. She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career changes, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and related areas. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish and she accepts international clients.
Maria Clara trained in clinical social work after earning a master's degree from California State University, Fresno in 1993 and an undergraduate degree in clinical psychology. She has worked with people from young adulthood through senior years and often draws on that range when discussing life transitions and caregiving challenges.
Her approach is client-centered and goal-oriented. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness techniques to offer practical tools for coping. She explains thinking and behavior patterns, practices strategies to manage stress, and introduces steps people can try between sessions.
In sessions she focuses on listening, validation, and reflection. Maria Clara aims to help people identify unhelpful thinking and develop manageable ways to respond. She describes therapy as hands-on and practical, with short-term goals alongside deeper work when needed.
Her background in both Colombian Spanish-speaking culture and U.S. culture informs how she talks about family, faith, and identity. She invites people to try a first session and to decide together on goals and methods that fit their daily life.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work
Maria Clara commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in her work. CBT looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep stress and unhappiness going and teaches practical skills to change those patterns. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on small, concrete steps toward clear goals and is useful when someone wants focused progress in day-to-day life.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and mindfulness practices to help with emotional regulation and distress tolerance. These approaches give simple tools for noticing feelings, grounding attention, and trying different responses instead of reacting automatically. Choosing which mix to use is a collaborative process. The therapist and client set goals together and test what helps most through regular check-ins.
The original profile does not list specific session formats here, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving, or travel. It can also allow shorter check-ins on a busy day, or sessions without needing to be on camera when that helps. Licensed professionals often use these practical features to make ongoing work more manageable while keeping the focus on concrete skills and weekly goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Florida
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, intimacy-related matters, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career questions, ADHD, and related areas.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She uses client-centered conversation and practical techniques from CBT, DBT, and mindfulness to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new responses when guilt or shame arise.
What is her experience and background?
She has 20 years of experience in hospitals, health centers, and private agencies and earned a master’s degree in clinical social work from California State University, Fresno.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Florida and practices with experience across clinical settings.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.