Maria Cusimano-Carl, LMFT

Experienced California marriage and family therapist

About Maria

Maria Cusimano-Carl has worked as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California since 2003. She brings 22 years of experience to sessions and focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, low self-esteem, and depression.

Background and approach

Her practice is practical and down-to-earth. Sessions are aimed at what clients want to change.

Conversations move toward clearer communication, better boundaries, and realistic coping skills. Maria uses several approaches to tailor care to each person.

She draws on client-centered therapy to build a respectful, listening space. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to spot patterns of thought and change unhelpful behaviors.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers skills for emotion regulation and handling intense moments. She also brings psychodynamic ideas about how past relationships shape current patterns.

Motivational Interviewing helps when people feel stuck or unsure about making changes. Together these approaches guide short-term problem solving and deeper self-understanding.

Maria has experience with adoption and foster care issues, attachment concerns, autism and Asperger syndrome, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, codependency, and substance-related concerns. She also works with matters like communication problems, divorce and separation, fertility stress, and family of origin issues.

Sessions are offered for adults age 18 and over in California. Conversations are straightforward and paced to each persons needs, with an emphasis on practical steps people can try between sessions.

Approach-driven online care that fits your schedule

Maria often blends client-centered therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to focus on what matters to the client and on practical steps that change thinking and behavior. Client-centered work creates a respectful, listening space where goals are set together. CBT helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and practice different responses that reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms.

She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy when strong emotions or relationship volatility make daily functioning hard. DBT teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication. Choosing an approach is a collaborative process - the therapist will discuss options, try methods in session, and adjust based on what feels most helpful for the client's goals and preferences.

Online therapy with Maria is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make ongoing work more doable. Video is useful for in-depth conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, skills practice, and progress notes between sessions. These options aim to increase flexibility and make it easier to keep therapy consistent around life obligations.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationships, family issues, low self-esteem, and depression. Additional focuses include adoption and foster care, attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and substance-related concerns.

What is her therapy style like?

Her style is practical and person-focused. Sessions combine listening with concrete tools for communication, emotion regulation, and problem solving.

How much experience does she have?

She has 22 years of clinical experience and has practiced as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California since 2003.

Where does she practice and what are her credentials?

She practices in California and holds a California LMFT license listed as CA LMFT.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can she work with clients outside the United States?

International clients are not currently accepted; services are provided to clients located in California.

What session formats does she offer?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How are costs and getting started handled?

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

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 22 years
Licensed: California
Languages: English