- Stress and anxiety
- CBT and mindfulness
- Motivational interviewing
About Maria
Maria Magdalena Rivera is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with six years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, self-esteem struggles, and the challenges of life transitions including young adult issues.
Rivera uses straightforward, talk-based sessions to help people sort priorities and build practical coping skills. She leans on approaches such as cognitive behavioral work and mindfulness to address unhelpful thinking and to calm intense emotions. Sessions move at a practical pace and focus on skills that can be used between meetings.
Her approach is client-centered in that conversations are guided by what matters most to the person in front of her. She also brings elements of dialectical behavior therapy and motivational interviewing when problems involve strong emotions or the need to change behaviors. These methods are explained clearly and practiced together in session.
Rivera works with issues tied to addiction and substance use, including drug and alcohol addiction, and she addresses related concerns such as codependency and guilt. She helps people who are managing chronic pain, illness, or disability to find strategies for day-to-day coping and for clearer communication about needs.
People looking for help with midlife adjustments, grief, or rebuilding self-love will find sessions that focus on concrete steps and check-ins. To start, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session so goals can be set and an initial plan agreed on.
Therapeutic approaches used in online sessions
Client-centered work focuses on the person's priorities and uses conversation to clarify goals and immediate needs. It helps with decision-making, low motivation, and sorting confusing emotions by centering what the client says is important.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at patterns of thinking and behavior. It teaches practical tools to change unhelpful thought cycles, reduce anxiety, and support better daily habits.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used for strong emotions and crisis moments. DBT offers concrete skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication when feelings feel overwhelming.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals and preferences, and then suggest or try methods that fit. That decision is shared and can be adjusted over time based on what helps most.
Confirm current session formats before booking since the original biography does not list them. Many people find online sessions convenient because they fit into study or work schedules, reduce commuting time, and allow for shorter regular check-ins when needed. Discussing format and timing early makes it easier to fit therapy into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, self-esteem, and coping with life changes, including young adult issues.
What is her style in sessions?
Sessions are conversational and practical, focusing on skills and steps a person can use between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of professional work experience as a clinician.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She is a California LMFT and practices in California.
Can she work with people who speak other languages or live abroad?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.