- Family concerns
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting support
About Maria
Maria Zavala is a Texas licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 13 years of clinical experience. She focuses on family concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting, and depression, and she works in both English and Spanish.
Maria helps people who are managing big life changes and difficult relationships. She talks through relationship conflict, blended family adjustments, separation and divorce, and problems linked to immigration and multicultural stress. She also supports people coping with mood disorders, chronic pain or illness, and the emotional effects of past abuse.
Her approach draws on client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, existential thinking, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing. Sessions are conversational and practical. Maria helps clients identify patterns, try new strategies, and reflect on personal values and goals.
She often works with people facing parenting strain, disruptive mood symptoms in family settings, issues of guilt or forgiveness, and questions about life purpose. Maria uses straightforward tools to manage symptoms and to improve communication in relationships.
Maria’s bilingual practice aims to be attentive to cultural context. She supports people from diverse backgrounds who want therapy in English or Spanish. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session through the online process.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the client. It helps people clarify their own goals and feel understood, which can be useful for relationship or identity concerns.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises and short experiments to change patterns that feed depression, anxiety, or conflict.
Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple ways to notice thoughts and bodily sensations. It can be helpful for mood regulation, stress from chronic illness, and reducing reactivity in tense family interactions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that fit a client's needs, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. This is a collaborative process rather than a fixed prescription.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, avoid travel time, or use a shorter check-in when needed. Ask about language options and schedule details when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Listed in
Texas
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with family conflict, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting, and depression along with related concerns like divorce, multicultural stress, and chronic illness.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses a mix of client-centered conversation, cognitive behavioral techniques, existential reflection, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing in practical, skills-focused sessions.
How much experience does she have?
She has 13 years of clinical experience as a therapist working with the concerns listed in her profile.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist - LMFT - practicing in Texas.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
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.