Dr. Maura Castellanos, CA Psychologist 32123

Dr. Maura Castellanos (she/her) is a California licensed psychologist, CA Psychologist 32123, with 12 years of clinical experience. She began her work in mental health as a chemical dependency technician in a dual diagnosis treatment facility more than a decade ago and later pursued advanced training, earning a master’s degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy followed by a doctorate in clinical psychology.

Her experience spans private practice, community clinics, hospitals, and correctional settings, and she has provided psychological assessment and intervention for children, adolescents, and adults. Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns, including stress and anxiety, addictions and substance use, anger, depression, trauma and abuse, grief and sleep problems, relationship and family difficulties, parenting challenges, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and issues related to LGBT identity and life transitions. Additional areas of focus include caregiver stress, abandonment and family of origin issues, chronic illness and pain, codependency, guilt and shame, isolation and life purpose, financial concerns, and mood disorders.

Dr. Castellanos works from a client-centered framework that values the whole person and emphasizes collaboration. She uses a multidimensional, integrative approach to design treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of each individual. Prospective clients can expect a thoughtful, team-oriented process as she assesses needs and develops interventions aimed at meaningful change for the person in front of her.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes understanding the person as a whole and creating a supportive environment where the individual’s values and goals guide the work. This approach is helpful for people coping with life changes, self-esteem concerns, relationship and family issues, and the emotional impact of chronic stress or caregiving roles.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is practical and goal-oriented, often used for anxiety, depression, insomnia, anger management, and symptoms related to ADHD or mood disorders.

Existential Therapy explores meaning, values, and choices in life, which can be especially useful for people facing midlife transitions, existential concerns, grief, or feelings of emptiness. Dr. Castellanos combines these methods in a collaborative way, working together with clients to determine which approaches best fit their needs, goals, and preferences.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage with licensed professionals and therapists. Video calls and phone sessions allow face-to-face conversation, while live chat and text-based messaging provide options for shorter check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to access care from different locations, helping clients maintain continuity of support as they work toward their goals.