Profile / United States
Maria Magdalena Rivera, LMFT
California
LMFT - Stress and addiction focus
See online therapy options- CBT
- DBT skills
- Motivational interviewing
About Maria
Maria Magdalena Rivera is an LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) licensed in California with six years of clinical experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, self-esteem issues, and major life changes. She works in English and focuses on practical ways to manage day-to-day challenges.
Her approach is direct and structured. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different responses. She also draws on client-centered methods to prioritize a person's goals and on DBT skills for emotion regulation when needed.
Sessions typically focus on clear goals and small, manageable steps. Conversations include identifying patterns, practicing coping skills, and tracking what works between meetings. Motivational Interviewing is used when someone feels stuck and needs help finding internal reasons to change.
She also addresses related concerns such as chronic pain and illness, codependency, communication problems, guilt and shame, and issues common in young adults and midlife. Work with grief, self-harm thoughts, and substance use centers on stabilizing immediate risk, building coping skills, and planning safer choices.
Maria explains interventions in plain terms and checks in about what is helpful. She asks clients to try short experiments between sessions and then reviews the results together. This practical focus aims to give people tools they can use in everyday life.
How CBT and related methods work in online sessions
Maria commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT breaks problems into small parts so people can test practical changes and track what helps. Client-Centered Therapy is used to focus on the person's goals and choices, with the therapist following the client's lead. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are offered when emotional regulation, distress tolerance, or interpersonal effectiveness are priorities.Deciding which approach to use is part of the work. She will collaborate with clients to choose methods that match their goals, comfort, and daily life. That usually means trying one approach for a few sessions and adjusting based on what the client finds most useful.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm which formats are currently offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. These practical benefits help people try new coping strategies in the context of their regular day and then bring observations back to sessions for review.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, self-esteem concerns, and coping with life changes. Additional areas include chronic pain, codependency, communication problems, and young adult issues.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
CBT is used to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new responses. Sessions focus on practical exercises and homework to change patterns over time.
What is her clinical experience?
She has six years of professional work experience providing psychotherapy. That experience includes work with anxiety, addiction, grief, and related concerns.
What credentials and location apply?
She is an LMFT licensed in California. Her practice location is listed as California.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are used?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know how sessions are delivered.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Check the service details for exact pricing based on your region.
How do I get started with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.