- Strengths based
- Goal focused
- Practical tools
About Maria
Maria Rivera is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, and the impact of trauma and abuse. She emphasizes the person's own strengths and perspective when working through difficult moments. Maria speaks plainly and encourages small, practical steps so clients feel more able to keep going.
Her approach centers on clear conversation and problem-solving. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice thoughts without getting stuck in them. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and Client-Centered Therapy to shape sessions around each person's goals.
Maria has worked across a range of concerns including mood differences such as depression and bipolar, parenting strains, grief, and codependency. She also supports people facing chronic illness, caregiver stress, body image worries, and life changes like adoption or aging-related issues. Her work includes help with attention differences often labeled ADHD and with communication or control struggles.
In sessions she combines short-term strategies with longer-term skill building. That can mean setting small, achievable goals, trying out new ways of responding, and checking what worked afterward. She prioritizes practical tools that fit into everyday life.
Maria practices in North Carolina and offers therapy in English. She invites people to take the first step even if it feels uncertain, and to use the early sessions to determine what matters most to them.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without letting those experiences control behavior. Online sessions can guide a person to clarify values and take steps that match what matters to them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and provides concrete techniques to test and change unhelpful patterns. In virtual work, that often means setting homework between sessions and reviewing what changed. Client-Centered Therapy puts the person's experience at the center and uses empathic listening to shape each session to the person's needs and pace.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods best match current needs, goals, and preferences. Early meetings are used to try things, see what helps, and adjust the plan together.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments around work, caregiving, or school by removing travel time. It also allows for shorter check-ins when a quick touch-base is helpful, and for video or phone options when less bandwidth or a lower level of visual focus is preferable. Licensed professionals can help tailor scheduling and session type to everyday routines so therapy fits life rather than competes with it.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Credentials
North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship and trauma concerns, along with grief, parenting strain, and self-esteem issues.
What is her overall therapy style?
Sessions are collaborative and down-to-earth. She emphasizes strengths, clear goals, and simple skills you can use between meetings.
How many years has she practiced?
She has 15 years of professional experience working with people on a range of emotional and behavioral concerns.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in North Carolina and practices there.
What languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can I work with her from another country?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start therapy with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist 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.