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Maria Ayala

LCSW • 10 years experience

Pronouns

She/Her

Languages

EnglishSpanish

Location

Virtual

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About Me

Maria Ayala, DSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California with experience in community mental health, clinical supervision, mentorship, and trauma-informed care. She currently serves in a clinical leadership role providing supervision, case consultation, staff support, and mentorship to behavioral health clinicians and graduate-level trainees. Her professional background includes supporting diverse populations across outpatient and community-based settings, with clinical experience in anxiety, depression, trauma, family systems, couples work, and postpartum mental health. Dr. Ayala also has experience in mentorship programming, culturally responsive care, and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives within behavioral health settings. Clients can expect a supportive, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space where they are encouraged to openly explore their thoughts, emotions, and life experiences. Therapy sessions are approached with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and authenticity, while also encouraging personal growth, self-awareness, and practical coping strategies. The therapeutic process is tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals, with an emphasis on building trust, emotional safety, and meaningful progress over time. Specializes in supporting individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, stress, identity-related concerns, postpartum mental health, and relationship challenges. Clinical approach is rooted in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based care, with an emphasis on helping clients build insight, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and healthier coping strategies. Also incorporates support around identity, belonging, boundaries, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships to help clients feel empowered and supported throughout the therapeutic process.

Treatment Methods

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps you accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fight them, while taking action aligned with your values. Particularly effective for anxiety, chronic pain, and depression.

Behavior Therapy

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps you identify thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress — then build skills to interrupt and change them. Highly effective and well-researched.

Dialectical

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions, navigating relationships, and tolerating distress. Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, now used broadly for emotional regulation.

Eclectic

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Existential

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Exposure Response Therapy

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Faith Based - Christian

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Family Systems

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Humanistic

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Integrative or Holistic Therapy

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Interpersonal

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

LGBTQ

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness-based approaches build present-moment awareness and a kinder relationship with your own thoughts. Often integrated with CBT or used as a standalone practice for anxiety and depression.

Person/Client-Centered Counseling

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Play Therapy

Play therapy is the primary therapeutic language for younger children. Through play, kids work through experiences and emotions that they cannot yet articulate in words.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic work explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape your current life. Useful when you want to understand the deeper roots of recurring patterns.

Relational

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Solution-Focused

An evidence-informed therapeutic approach used by our providers. Ask your therapist how they integrate this method into your work together.

Note: Each session is 60 minutes, whether it’s your first consult or an ongoing visit.

Insurance Accepted

Out of PocketAetnaKaiser PermanenteIEHP - MediCalBluecross / Blueshield

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CignaAnthem - BluecrossMolinaUnited HealthcareHealthnetTricare WestHumanaCarelonLucent HealthMagellanLA CareTricare HNFSMedicareCarelon / Beacon HealthUprise HealthCAL - OptimaMagellan HealthcareRegal Medical GroupLucet Health / SCANImperial Health Holdings

Don’t see your plan? Call 909-295-5805 — we can verify your benefits.

Age Preferences

Children (6-12)Adolescents (13-17)

Clinical Focus

ADHDAdjustment IssuesAdoptionsAnger ManagementAnxietyBehavioral ProblemsCareer CounselingCoping SkillsDepressionDevelopmental DisordersDissociative DisordersDivorceDomestic ViolenceDual DiagnosisEating DisordersFamily ConflictGambling ProblemsGender Identity IssuesGrief and LossHoardingInfertilityLearning DisabilitiesLife CoachingLife TransitionMartial/Pre-MaritalMedical Illness / IssuesMen's IssuesMood DisordersObsessive-Compulsive DisordersParentingPersonality DisordersPregnancy/PostpartumPTSDRelationship IssuesSchool ProblemsSelective MutismSelf EsteemSelf HarmingTraumaTrichotillomaniaWomen's Issues

Location

Sessions are offered via secure video. Available statewide across California.

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