Maria Gimenez-Cruz, LCSW

Maria Gimenez-Cruz is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life changes. She speaks English and Spanish and focuses on practical skills that can be used right away. Her approach aims to help people feel more capable in day-to-day life.

Maria draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different ways of responding. She also uses client-centered listening so sessions stay focused on what matters most to each person. Mindfulness exercises and motivational questions often appear in sessions to support coping and clarity.

Across nine years of practice, Maria has supported people dealing with grief, relationship strain, sleep problems, anger, and compassion fatigue. She also works with concerns related to trauma, abandonment, attachment, immigration issues, and post-traumatic stress. Her background includes helping people manage ADHD symptoms and somatic responses to stress.

In sessions she prioritizes collaboration and straightforward tools. People work with her to identify strengths, set small goals, and practice strategies between meetings. The therapist aims to be warm and direct, offering feedback and simple exercises that match each person's pace.

For parents and caregivers she offers help with parenting stress and family-related worries, using concrete steps rather than long theoretical explanations. Maria believes change starts with small, manageable shifts and she supports clients through each step of that work.

How therapy approaches work online

Maria often uses cognitive behavioral work to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. CBT-style exercises can include short between-session tasks and clear steps to practice breathing, sleep routines, or coping tools for anxiety.

She also uses client-centered methods that prioritize listening and reflecting what matters to the person. That approach helps build trust and keeps sessions focused on the client's goals rather than the therapist's agenda.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then adjust methods over time. Clients and the therapist collaborate on which techniques to use and when to try something different.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video calls are helpful for face-to-face interaction and guided exercises. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, mood tracking, or reminders between meetings, making it easier to keep therapy consistent around a busy schedule.