(805) 881-2951
I believe my clients already have all of the answers, wisdom, and capacity within themselves. My job is to help them access these resources
You’ve tried so many different ways to cope with the anxiety, the depression, the kid’s problems, your partners issues and still, you have nothing to show for it at this time. Google pops up a sea of therapist with various expertise and you don’t know who to call. If your looking for an authentic person who won’t just sit there and nod their head and expect you to come up with all the answers then your in the right place. I have years of service in the community and personal experience that I know will be of great value to you.
My name is Maria DeAlba and I became a therapist after having experienced my formative years as an at risk youth and after years of managing the ups and downs of adulting which included parenting.
I saw my relatives challenged with expressing their emotions and noticed various parenting styles that did not seem to fit with us kids. The people in the type of neighborhoods I grew up around, were struggling to make ends meet and emotional dysregulation was in abundance on every corner. In spite of all of this, as a young child, I felt deep empathy and compassion for those around me.
I began serving my community early on in my academic career and this led me to continue my studies and further my education; I became am LMFT… Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
What Do Marriage and Family Therapist Do Anyway?
So, the title holds some truth to it, I am trained in marriage counseling and family therapy…but that doesn’t really encompass the extent of my clinical training.
As a matter of fact, I can actually do a ton more, and aside from living through my upbringing, surviving my twenties, and raising a whole Hockey Team (not one of my kids plays… but there’s six of them!)
I have a substantial amount of training in counseling single, married, together but not married, and divorced people.. and of course TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS and PARENTS! Most often I work alongside clients with anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as behavioral issues and challenges that get in the way of being successful in school and other vocational goals. I also provide case management on some occasions to help clients navigate community resources. My goal is to get you up and going in the morning and more importantly to get you looking forward to your day!
In session I’ve cried along side clients who have lost loved ones in death, and have held their hand through chronic and permanent medical ailments that cause a great deal of stress and fear. I’ve walked down the street with them to support them through their fears, sat in their homes, along the beach shore, and yes, even watched a movie or two in the office. I have also helped people with paralyzing anxiety, relentless depression, and substance use.
Angry Birds too! Can’t forget my Anger Management peepz!
I spent two years interning at the Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Clinic and pioneered and oversaw Clinica Latina; helping people with severe mental illnesses e.g., Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorders’ and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Also, one year providing therapy for individual and families in subsidized housing at a local nonprofit counseling agency New Beginnings and …..
Three long years providing intensive therapy and ongoing case management at Sanctuary Centers of Santa Barbara to clients with co occurring disorders’ (Co-occurring disorders may include any combination of two or more substance use disorders and mental disorders identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
I’ve also taught in classroom and group like settings…some of my favorite classes to teach were:
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for stress management
Seeking Safety for trauma
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Anger Management
I went to school for a SUPER long time, and earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in Latino Mental Health from Antioch University Santa Barbara.
Oh…and cool thing I didn’t mention, I am licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences to both assess and diagnose mental health disorders.
My MFT license number is #123745
