PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

MA Portrait of Maritza Alvarez-Pena
Online therapist

Maritza Alvarez-Pena

Supportive marriage and family therapist

Book with Maritza
Credentials
LMFT
Experience
23 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English, Spanish
Format
Online sessions

About Maritza

Maritza Alvarez-Pena is a bilingual licensed marriage and family therapist in California. She speaks English and Spanish and brings a calm, direct style to sessions. Parents often find her practical and straightforward when they need help with household stress or parenting concerns.

She has a Master’s degree in Psychology Counseling and holds a California LMFT license - CA LMFT 138711. Maritza has worked in the field for 23 years and has experience helping people with anxiety, depression, trauma and grief.

Background and approach

She also addresses relationship and family issues that affect day-to-day life. In sessions she listens first, and then helps set clear steps people can try at home. She mixes different approaches based on what each family needs.

That might mean learning new communication habits, practicing simple mindfulness skills, or trying actions that change how people respond to stress. Maritza also works with adoption and foster care matters, attachment concerns, blended family dynamics, caregiving stress, chronic illness or pain, and related topics. She aims to make therapy feel useful and manageable for busy families.

Her style is collaborative and practical. She focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take realistic steps forward. Parents and partners looking for steady, experienced support often contact her to sort through next steps.

How her approaches translate to online family support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people clarify their values and take small actions toward them. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and situations where parents feel stuck or overwhelmed. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thought and behavior patterns and teaches concrete skills to change reactions and improve daily routines. That approach can help with anxiety, depression, and managing strong emotions. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to relationship patterns and helps families build more supported ways of relating to one another, which can be helpful after loss or during blended family transitions.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist works together with each person or family to pick methods that match goals, preferences, and what feels doable. Over time she adjusts the plan based on what is helping and what needs a different focus.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy parents. Video calls let families see one another and practice new communication skills. Phone sessions are an option when schedules are tight. Live chat or text-based messaging can be used for brief check-ins or to work through steps between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit steady support into real life while still working on practical changes.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting issues, and depression. Additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, attachment issues, blended family dynamics, caregiving stress, chronic illness and related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She listens and then helps set clear, practical steps families can use at home. Her style blends several approaches to match each client’s needs.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 23 years of professional experience in counseling and therapy work in California.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist - CA LMFT 138711 - practicing in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does she use?
Sessions can take place via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How do I start a therapy relationship with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
23 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English, Spanish

Next step

Talk to Maritza

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point
Book with Maritza