- Stress and anxiety
- CBT and mindfulness
- English and Spanish
About Maria
Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto is a Florida LCSW with 20 years of clinical experience. She speaks English and Spanish and works with adults who are coping with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting challenges, career questions, and life changes. She also helps people facing trauma and abuse, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and a range of family-related worries.
She trained at California State University, Fresno, earning a master’s degree in clinical social work after completing undergraduate studies in clinical psychology. Her background includes work in hospitals, health centers, and private agencies, and she has experience with clients from young adulthood through older adulthood.
Her practice emphasizes a client-centered, goal-oriented approach. She uses practical methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness techniques to identify unhelpful thinking and build coping skills. Sessions tend to focus on concrete strategies for regulating emotion and changing patterns that get in the way of daily functioning.
In sessions she uses listening, validation, reflection, and clear problem-solving to address immediate concerns and longer-term patterns. She also brings awareness of cultural context, having been raised in both Colombian Spanish-speaking culture and US English-speaking culture.
People consult her for a mix of short-term problem solving and ongoing work on deeper patterns. She invites prospective clients to begin by completing the initial matching steps and scheduling a first meeting to see if her practical, hands-on style fits their needs.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so the client’s priorities lead the work; it helps clarify values and next steps when life feels uncertain. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thought and behavior and teaches practical tools to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful habits. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) includes skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal effectiveness, useful for intense emotions and relationship strain.Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences, try techniques that match those goals, and adjust the plan if something does not feel useful. Clients and therapist work together to decide which methods make the most sense for the current problem and what to focus on next.
Confirm the session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific online options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so people can use a break between commitments. They also let a therapist guide practical skill practice and homework that fit into everyday routines.
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 concerns does she often address?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting, career questions, and coping with life changes.
How does she approach feeling stuck or directionless?
Her style is client-centered and goal-oriented, using practical techniques to identify unhelpful thinking and try new ways of coping and decision making.
What is her clinical background?
She has 20 years of experience and holds a master’s degree in clinical social work from California State University, Fresno.
What credential and region does she practise under?
She is a Florida LCSW and practices in Florida.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Does she work with international clients?
She accepts international clients.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.