PuttingFamilyFirst

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MF Portrait of MAIDA FERRAES
Online therapist

MAIDA FERRAES

Practical family-focused therapy with calm direction

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Credentials
LMFT
Experience
7 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Format
Online sessions

About MAIDA

MAIDA FERRAES is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California who focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues. She has seven years of experience working with people facing anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, addiction, sleep problems, and relationship strain.

She also supports clients dealing with ADHD, bipolar disorder, self-esteem struggles, anger, and career or life transitions. In sessions she keeps things direct and practical.

Background and approach

She listens first, then helps clients set small goals they can actually try between meetings. Her style is warm and patient. She aims to make room for real-life problems, not clinical jargon.

Her clinical toolkit includes cognitive behavioral therapy - a hands-on method to change unhelpful thoughts and habits - and dialectical behavior therapy - which teaches coping and emotional regulation skills. She also uses client-centered techniques to follow what each person brings into the room and motivational interviewing to help people find their own reasons to change.

Maida has worked in individual and group settings, in-office, and in residential and outpatient programs since 2017. That range informs how she structures sessions for families and parents, and how she adapts interventions for different life stages. She speaks English and Spanish.

Practical matters are kept straightforward. Sessions can take different formats to fit daily life, and the work usually focuses on clear steps for better communication, parenting strategies, and coping tools for stressful moments.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on the clients experience and builds sessions around what matters most to them. It helps people feel heard and supported while they explore practical changes. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and teaches concrete tools to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, teaches skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and healthier communication, which can be helpful for mood issues and intense reactions.



Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences, try methods that fit the issue, and adjust the plan as progress is made. Clients and the therapist decide together which strategies to keep working on.



Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Sessions can happen by video calls for face-to-face conversation, by phone for convenience, or through live chat and text-based messaging for shorter check-ins and ongoing support. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules and to maintain continuity when life gets hectic.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does this therapist help with?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, addictions, sleep issues, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, ADHD, bipolar symptoms, and many related areas.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is warm, direct, and practical. She listens carefully and works with clients to set manageable goals and concrete steps between sessions.
What training and experience does she have?
She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with seven years of experience in individual and group settings, including residential and outpatient work since 2017.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is licensed in California as an LMFT with the license number CA LMFT 122252 and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be held via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on client preference.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
7 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English, Spanish

Next step

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