Maria Frassinelli Sierra, LCSW, LICSW

Maria Frassinelli Sierra is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing grief, cancer-related challenges, and big life changes. She brings a steady, practical approach and respects each person’s story and strengths. Her work is grounded in common-sense skills that people can use between sessions.

With 25 years of experience, Maria focuses on easing the strain that serious illness, caregiving, and end-of-life questions place on individuals. She also supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, career questions, and LGBTQ concerns. She often combines short-term coaching with longer-term therapeutic goals depending on what someone needs.

In sessions she uses tools drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and client-centered methods to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try new ways of coping. She teaches concrete strategies for stress reduction, managing strong emotions, and improving communication.

Maria’s background in medical social work gives her experience with cancer, hospice, chronic illness, and caregiver strain. She also addresses fertility and pregnancy concerns, aging and geriatric issues, and life-purpose questions. That experience helps her navigate both practical problems and the emotional weight that comes with health-related crises.

Her style is collaborative and respectful. She partners with people to set realistic goals and to find small changes that add up. Sessions aim to reduce overwhelm and build confidence for the next step.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Care

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety and improve mood. It is practical and often involves short exercises between sessions to build skills.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify their values and accept hard feelings while taking steps toward what matters. It is useful for coping with chronic illness, grief, and persistent stress.

Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and the client’s own goals. The therapist offers support and reflection while people lead the pace and focus of the work.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. Maria will talk with each person about their goals, needs, and preferences and then recommend or combine approaches that fit. This collaborative process helps tailor sessions to practical problems and emotional needs.

Online formats - video, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and use of visual tools, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or live chat can be useful for short check-ins or ongoing coaching between sessions. These options give flexibility for people balancing medical appointments, caregiving, work, or travel.