- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief and trauma
About Maria
Maria Ruud is an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) with ten years of clinical experience based in Michigan. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, self-esteem, depression, and issues related to identity and grief. Maria also supports people facing addiction, trauma and abuse, intimacy questions, parenting strain, and career or life changes.
Her sessions focus on practical conversation and concrete coping skills. She helps people name what is most pressing, try manageable strategies, and track what helps. The therapist uses plain language and steady pacing rather than jargon or long theory talks.
Maria brings experience with a wide range of concerns that often overlap. She addresses family problems, communication and commitment issues, codependency, and compassion fatigue. She also works with people dealing with chronic illness, caregiver stress, blended family dynamics, and aging-related worries.
Her work includes support around grief, dissociation, domestic violence histories, and substance use challenges. Maria pays attention to how life changes like leaving school, starting a job, or shifting relationships affect mood and behavior. She also supports LGBT-related concerns and body image or cancer-related stress.
Clients can expect straightforward goal-setting and step-by-step plans to manage symptoms and daily demands. Maria emphasizes building skills people can use between sessions. She encourages small, realistic changes and reviews progress regularly to adjust the plan as needed.
Approaches you might use and online practicalities
Maria uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques focused on real-world change. One approach is skills-based work that teaches concrete tools for managing anxiety and stress, such as breath work, grounding, and stepwise exposure to feared situations. This helps with social anxiety, panic, and everyday worry.Another common method is structured problem-solving for relationship and life-transition issues. That means identifying specific patterns, trying small behavior changes, and testing what improves communication or reduces conflict. It is useful for commitment concerns, codependency, and work-related stress.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Maria will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She reviews what’s working and adapts plans over time so therapy stays relevant and manageable.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking because the profile does not list formats. Ask which session types are currently offered and how they fit your schedule. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into study or work breaks, allow a shorter check-in when time is tight, or reduce travel time so sessions are more consistent.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, self-esteem, grief, addiction, trauma and related concerns.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses straightforward conversation and practical coping strategies, focusing on concrete skills and gradual progress rather than technical labels.
How much experience does she have?
She has ten years of clinical experience as a practicing therapist.
What are her professional credentials and where is she based?
She holds an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) credential and practices from Michigan.
Does she work in other languages or accept international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
The original profile does not list specific session formats; confirm the current online and in-person options before booking.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a therapy relationship with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a 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.