- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness practice
- Motivational interviewing
About Maria
Maria Abada is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey with 16 years in the mental health field. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, anger, depression, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, and life changes. She also supports people dealing with grief, self-esteem concerns, and perinatal mood issues.
Maria has practiced in residential programs, partial care, outpatient clinics, in-home settings, and addiction services. That range means she has experience with varying levels of need and complexity. In recent years she has focused on perinatal mental health alongside trauma and family problems.
Her approach centers on the person rather than a fixed protocol. She starts from where someone is and uses a mix of methods to address practical problems and painful history. That includes cognitive-behavioral techniques to change unhelpful patterns, mindfulness to build present-moment skills, and longer-term psychodynamic work when looking at deeper life patterns.
Maria values collaboration and setting concrete goals. She uses motivational interviewing to help people clarify what matters and move toward it. She combines short-term strategies with work that can take more time when needed.
Her lived experience with mental health in her family informs how she listens and plans treatment. She works with adult female clients and brings sensitivity to cultural, lifestyle, and pregnancy-related concerns. To begin, clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
How her approaches translate to online work
Maria often brings cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness into sessions. CBT focuses on identifying thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and then trying small, practical experiments to change them. Mindfulness teaches simple attention skills to reduce reactivity and manage stress in the moment.She also uses client-centered techniques that prioritize what the client wants to work on and motivational interviewing to help clarify goals. Together these approaches help with anger that shows up in relationships, work frustration, or ongoing resentment by combining skills practice with values-based decisions.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that fit. That collaboration makes it easier to adjust strategies if something isn’t helping.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. It also lets people practice skills between meetings and apply them to everyday situations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She helps adults with stress, anxiety, anger, depression, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, and life changes. She also has experience with perinatal and pregnancy-related mental health.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a person-centered and integrative style that combines practical skills with discussion of deeper patterns. Sessions focus on concrete goals and steps alongside longer-term exploration when needed.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience working in a variety of mental health settings, including residential, outpatient, in-home, and addiction services.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in New Jersey and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.