Maria Conforti , LCSW

Maria Conforti is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 16 years of practice in Illinois. She draws on long experience in a range of settings to help people facing relationship struggles, trauma, grief, and attention differences. She speaks English and Italian and works with people who are ready to do the work of change.

Her background includes work in private practice, group homes, incarceration settings, community organizations, and nonprofit programs. That variety shaped a practical style that blends several therapeutic tools to meet each person’s needs. She has supported people through divorce and co-parenting planning, coached around communication and commitment issues, and addressed problems like codependency and body image concerns.

Maria favors concrete, solution-focused work. She brings compassion and direct feedback when needed. She helps clients identify patterns rooted in early experience, then shift toward healthier choices and clearer goals. Sessions often move from understanding the past to action steps for the present.

Her approach pulls from cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance-based ideas, attachment-focused perspectives, and dialectical behavior methods. The result is an individualized plan that emphasizes skill-building, clearer communication, and emotional regulation. She encourages clients to practice new tools between sessions so progress carries over into daily life.

People who do best with her tend to be ready for change and open to honest, sometimes challenging conversations. Maria aims to give clients the tools to rely on themselves over time and to leave therapy with skills they can use long after sessions end.

How her approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and take small, committed steps toward them. It is useful for people stuck in avoidance, chronic worry, or difficulty following through on goals. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current patterns and communication. It helps people understand why they react strongly in intimate situations and learn new ways to connect and set boundaries.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Maria will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and preferences. She listens to what a client needs, explains options in plain terms, and adjusts techniques as therapy progresses to keep things practical and relevant.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video lets people use visual cues for deeper conversations. Phone can work when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging allow quick check-ins, momentary coaching, and notes between sessions. These options make it easier to keep consistent work while balancing life commitments.