IFSTherapists

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LMFT

Maria Cusimano-Carl, LMFT

  • Experience22 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Family
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Maria

Maria Cusimano-Carl brings over two decades of clinical work to her practice as an LMFT, offering therapy in California since 2003.

Background and approach

She has guided individuals and families through recovery-related challenges, including relapse prevention and rebuilding trust after substance use, and has worked with a range of relational and personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, and self-esteem difficulties.

Her experience also extends to areas like adoption and foster care, attachment concerns, autism and Asperger Syndrome, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, codependency, and fertility-related strain. Maria integrates a variety of approaches including Internal Family Systems alongside client-centered, cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, and motivational interviewing techniques.

She sees clients aged 18 and older and combines these methods to tailor care to each person’s needs, drawing on 22 years of practice to assist people navigating life transitions, communication problems, commitment and control issues, or separation and divorce. Sessions are offered via multiple online formats to fit different schedules and preferences.

Integrating therapeutic approaches for online care



Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps people explore inner parts and the ways those parts interact, offering a path to understand inner conflicts and reduce self-criticism. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy and a nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship, supporting people as they find their own solutions and build self-understanding. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to relieve symptoms like anxiety and depression and to improve coping skills.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to consider goals, preferences, and the issues at hand, and then adapt or combine these methods so treatment fits the person rather than forcing a single model.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and needs. These options make it easier to continue therapy during busy periods or when in-person visits are impractical, allowing licensed professionals to maintain continuity of care across varied circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Maria focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, self-esteem concerns, and depression, along with topics such as adoption and foster care, attachment issues, autism and Asperger Syndrome, and caregiver stress.
What is the therapist's general therapeutic style?
The approach blends client-centered care with evidence-informed techniques like CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and Internal Family Systems to tailor work to each person's situation.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
The clinician has 22 years of experience and has led groups on relapse prevention and rebuilding trust after recovery, working with both individuals and families.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LMFT licensed in California with license number CA LMFT 39420, and she practices in California.
Are sessions available in other languages or to international clients?
Therapy is offered in English, and international clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are offered?
Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How is cost structured for sessions?
Fees vary depending on location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in beginning therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemDepression

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDrug and alcohol addictionFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSLife purposeNarcissismPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

22+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English