Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto, LCSW

Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who brings more than 20 years of clinical experience to her practice. She earned a master’s degree from California State University, Fresno in 1993 after completing an undergraduate major in clinical psychology, and has worked with people from young adulthood through the senior years in hospitals, health centers, and private agencies. LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a credential that reflects graduate-level social work training and specialized experience working with mental health concerns.

Raised between Colombian and United States cultures, she is fluent in both Spanish and English and uses that bicultural background to connect openly with clients from diverse backgrounds. Her approach emphasizes a client-centered, goal-oriented framework that blends practical techniques with humanistic values. She commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Systems Theory, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and an overall humanistic model to offer hands-on strategies for managing stress, regulating emotions, and building more grounded well-being.

Sessions focus on validation, empathy, active listening, and reflective feedback within a nonjudgmental environment. The work is practical and solution-minded - identifying unhelpful patterns, introducing coping tools, and supporting clients as they open new pathways toward a more fulfilling experience. She invites prospective clients to take the first step toward change and views the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative path toward growth and resilience.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto integrates client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to tailor online care to each person's needs. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a trusting, empathic relationship where the client’s goals guide the work - it helps people explore their values, strengthen self-understanding, and find their own path forward. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) concentrates on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaching practical skills to cope with anxiety, depression, and stress.

She also uses solution-focused techniques that emphasize immediate, achievable changes - these methods help clients set concrete goals and discover small, effective steps toward improvement. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process; she collaborates with each client to determine which methods match their needs, goals, and preferences so the work feels purposeful and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity through life transitions, and access licensed professionals from different locations. The online format supports ongoing skill practice between sessions and allows therapy to adapt to each client’s lifestyle and availability.