Maria Abada, LPC - Therapist in New Jersey

About Maria

Maria Abada is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) based in New Jersey. She focuses on family and parenting concerns along with stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Her manner is warm and supportive, and she aims to work collaboratively with people to set clear, manageable steps toward change.

Maria has 16 years of experience in mental health settings. She has worked in residential care, partial care, outpatient programs, in-home services, and addiction treatment.

Background and approach

In the past five years she has also worked with people experiencing perinatal mental health concerns including postpartum depression and issues related to pregnancy and childbirth. Her approach blends person-centered care with evidence-based tools. She draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to address thinking patterns and behavior.

She also uses mindfulness practices to help with stress and emotional regulation, and motivational interviewing to support readiness for change. Maria pays attention to cultural identity and life circumstances when planning treatment. She prefers a steady, consistent path rather than quick fixes, helping clients build long-term skills for coping and resilience.

She describes her style as hands-on and collaborative, focusing on practical goals and steps. Clients who come for family problems, relationship stress, grief, anger, or post-traumatic stress can expect an individualized plan. Maria integrates classic psychodynamic ideas when helpful and keeps trauma-informed principles in mind during care.

She offers sessions that fit different needs, including options for online and text-based formats.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Maria often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; this approach is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. She also uses mindfulness therapy to teach simple awareness and grounding practices that reduce overwhelm and improve emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. She collaborates with each person to pick methods that fit their goals, values, and day-to-day life. Together they set practical steps and adjust the plan as progress is made or needs change.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to continue work between meetings. Licensed professionals can use these formats to offer regular check-ins, skill practice, and goal-focused conversations in a more flexible way than only in-person visits.

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.

Mindfulness Therapy

Attention training: noticing thoughts and physical feelings as they arrive without being carried off by them. Much of it is practice you do yourself, so guidance over video or audio works much as it would in person.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Maria address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, self-esteem concerns, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, coping with life changes, and women's perinatal issues.

How would she describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is warm and collaborative. She focuses on concrete steps, steady progress, and tailoring work to each person's needs.

What is her experience in the field?

Maria has 16 years of experience across residential, partial care, outpatient, in-home, and addiction settings.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

She is a licensed professional counselor - LPC - licensed in New Jersey under NJ LPC 37PC00552300 and practices in New Jersey.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

She is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.

How do payments and scheduling work?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; to begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 16 years
Licensed: New Jersey
Languages: English

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