Maritza Villacis , LCSW

Maritza Villacis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 15 years of professional experience helping people navigate major life challenges and everyday stressors. She brings a down-to-earth, relatable style to therapy and emphasizes practical connection and compassionate support. Maritza works with a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addiction, relationship and family issues, parenting and caregiver stress, aging and geriatric matters, and challenges related to self-esteem, intimacy, sleep, anger, and career transitions.

She integrates evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, selecting approaches to match each client s needs and goals. Maritza values clear, plainspoken communication and aims to create an environment where clients feel heard rather than talked at. Guided by a personal sense of purpose, she supports clients through the sometimes difficult early steps of healing by helping them make sense of their experiences and find workable coping strategies.

Maritza is bilingual in English and Spanish and offers remote sessions by phone, video call, live chat, and text-based messaging. She strives to respond promptly to messages and to be flexible when scheduling so clients can find times that fit their lives.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical strategies to change behaviors and manage symptoms; it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and addiction-related challenges. Emotionally-Focused Therapy, or EFT, focuses on understanding and reshaping emotional responses within relationships to improve connection and resolve recurring conflicts. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness skills that reduce reactivity and improve coping with stress, sleep difficulties, and emotional overwhelm.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Maritza works collaboratively with each person to determine which combination of methods best fits their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made. This partnership helps clients feel involved in decisions about their care and confident in the path forward.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for people with busy schedules or mobility limits. Through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, clients can access consistent support from licensed professionals without long commutes, making it easier to sustain weekly work on goals and maintain continuity during life transitions.