- Client-centered
- Goal oriented
- Bilingual English Spanish
About Maria
Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto is a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of practice. She welcomes people who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or worn out and wants to help them find practical ways forward. She speaks English and Spanish and draws on long experience in hospitals, health centers, and private agencies across different cultures.
Her work is client-centered and goal oriented. Sessions focus on clear, practical steps people can use right away. She uses tools from cognitive behavioral work, mindfulness, and solution-focused methods to help with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship concerns, and parenting strains.
Maria Clara earned a master of social work from California State University, Fresno, after completing an undergraduate major in clinical psychology. She has worked with adults across the lifespan from young adults to senior citizens. That range informs an approach that is straightforward and adaptable to each person's needs.
In sessions she relies on listening, validation, and reflection to help people notice thoughts and patterns that get in the way. Then she and the client set simple goals and practice skills to change those patterns. The focus is often on coping skills, emotion regulation, and steps toward better daily functioning.
She also offers support for more specific concerns such as trauma and abuse, adoption and foster care issues, caregiving stress, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and life transitions. Maria Clara encourages a first step - completing a brief matching questionnaire - to see if her style fits your needs.
How therapy approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and support so clients identify their own goals and solutions; online sessions can keep that same collaborative tone. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses practical exercises to shift unhelpful patterns; this works well through discussion, homework, and guided practice. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing techniques to reduce reactivity and build calm, and these practices can be introduced and practiced during online meetings.Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences in early meetings and try methods that match what the client needs. If something doesn't fit, the plan is adjusted so the work stays useful and relevant.
The practical benefits of online therapy include easier scheduling and fewer travel demands, which can make it simpler to keep appointments during busy weeks. Online work can also allow shorter check-ins or focused skill sessions when that's more helpful. Because formats were not specified in the biography, confirm current session options before booking so you know how sessions are held and can pick what fits your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Florida
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Maria Clara commonly address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career shifts, trauma and abuse, and compassion fatigue.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is client-centered and goal oriented, using practical tools from cognitive behavioral methods, mindfulness, and solution-focused work to build coping skills and change unhelpful patterns.
What kind of experience does she bring?
She has two decades of experience working in hospitals, health centers, and private agencies, supporting adults from young adulthood through older adulthood.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds the credential LCSW, licensed in Florida, and practices with a background in clinical psychology and a master of social work from California State University, Fresno.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Does she accept clients outside the United States?
International clients are accepted; confirm details during the matching and scheduling process.
How are sessions structured and what formats are available?
Session formats are not specified in the biography; please confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered.
How does cost and scheduling work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to begin, use the Start Therapy button and complete the short matching questionnaire to schedule.