- Strengths focused
- Practical steps
- Trauma informed
About Maria
Maria O'Donnell is a licensed clinical social worker in Florida who helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, and the effects of trauma and abuse. She also supports people working on motivation, self-esteem, confidence, and parenting challenges. Her approach is practical and respectful, centered on each person's strengths and story.
She uses clear, down-to-earth conversation to identify what matters most to the client. Sessions focus on small, doable steps that build confidence and reduce overwhelm. Maria treats people as partners in the process and emphasizes realistic goals and routine practice between meetings.
Her method draws on a mix of evidence-informed approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral ideas, and mindfulness. She blends these so the work fits the client's life rather than forcing a single model. Motivational interviewing techniques are used to help clients find their own reasons to change.
Maria brings three years of clinical experience in Florida and holds the LCSW credential, licensed clinical social worker. She listens for strengths and patterns that get in the way, such as attachment issues or codependent behavior, and then helps clients try different ways of responding.
People who choose her often want straightforward guidance and warm support while they build new habits. She encourages anyone taking the first step to seek a match and to begin with a short intake that clarifies goals and next steps.
How therapy approaches work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then move toward actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and when life feels stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence one another and offers practical tools to change unhelpful patterns, which can help with panic, anxiety, and low mood. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and creating a nonjudgmental space so clients can find their own solutions and build self-trust.Finding the best approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, needs, and daily life. That might mean trying one strategy for a few sessions and then adjusting based on what helps most.
Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins around work breaks, and offer options when someone prefers not to be on camera. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, and client-centered techniques to the online setting so the work remains practical and focused on tangible steps.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
3+ years
Credentials
Florida
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Maria help with?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, parenting, and related issues such as codependency and attachment challenges.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth, focusing on small practical steps, realistic goals, and using the client's strengths to guide change.
What is her professional background?
She has three years of professional clinical experience working with these concerns and applies a mix of therapeutic approaches to meet individual needs.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is a Florida LCSW, which stands for licensed clinical social worker, and practices in Florida.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions billed and what is the cost structure?
Cost varies by location and other factors; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process of working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.