Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto , LCSW

Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 20 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma, grief, and life transitions. She has worked with clients ranging from young adults to senior citizens across hospitals, health centers, and private agencies, bringing a broad clinical background to each therapeutic relationship.

She earned a master of social work from California State University, Fresno in 1993 and completed an undergraduate major in clinical psychology. Raised within both Colombian and U.S. cultures, she is fluent in Spanish and English and uses her bilingual background to connect with people from diverse cultural experiences.

Her clinical approach is client-centered and goal-oriented, drawing primarily on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), systems theory, solution-focused brief therapy, and an overall humanistic framework. These modalities emphasize practical tools - for example, identifying unhelpful thinking patterns with CBT, examining interpersonal systems, and setting focused, achievable goals - to improve emotional regulation and daily functioning.

Salazar-Pretto prioritizes validation, active listening, and empathy in sessions while offering hands-on strategies that support coping and growth. She encourages individuals to take an initial step toward change and brings decades of training and life experience to support people working toward more grounded, fulfilling lives.

Therapeutic approaches for online therapy

Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto often uses client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to guide online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on creating a supportive, empathetic space where the individual’s goals and values shape the work; it is helpful for building self-understanding, improving relationships, and exploring emotional concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical coping skills for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday challenges. She also integrates solution-focused techniques to help clients identify realistic goals and small steps toward change, which can be especially useful when time-limited progress or concrete problem solving is a priority.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to consider their needs, goals, and preferences and may combine methods to tailor a plan that fits the individual’s situation and pace.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - which can make it easier to schedule appointments around work, family, and other responsibilities. For many people, remote sessions increase accessibility and continuity of care while allowing therapists and licensed professionals to deliver structured, effective interventions in formats that suit the client.