Dr. Maura Castellanos , CA Psychologist 32123

Dr. Maura Castellanos began her career as a chemical dependency technician in a dual diagnosis treatment setting and later pursued advanced degrees in clinical psychology. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and practices as a CA Psychologist. Her path reflects a long-term commitment to helping people who struggle with addiction, mood concerns, and life transitions.

She draws on 12 years of clinical experience across private practice, community clinics, hospitals, and correctional settings. That variety means she has worked with people facing many kinds of challenges, from anxiety and depression to trauma and grief. She also supports those navigating parenting stress, caregiving burden, and issues related to identity and relationships.

In sessions she uses a client-centered stance that treats the person as a whole. That means conversations focus on what matters most to the individual and the practical steps they want to take. She also combines other approaches to match each person's situation and goals.

Clients can expect clear, direct conversations about coping skills and next steps. Dr. Castellanos pays attention to patterns that keep people stuck and looks for small, doable changes. She aims to help people rebuild routines, manage strong emotions, and set realistic goals for work and family life.

Her practice includes attention to women’s issues alongside a broad range of concerns such as addiction, grief, ADHD, and chronic illness. Sessions are offered in English and are based in California under her CA Psychologist credential.

How different approaches guide online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and responding to the person’s experience. It encourages people to set their own goals while the therapist offers support and reflection. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches concrete tools to change unhelpful patterns and reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Dr. Castellanos will discuss options and tailor methods based on the client’s concerns, goals, and preferences. That means sessions may start with one approach and add others as needs change, in a collaborative way.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth conversation and skill work. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or require less bandwidth. Live chat and messaging are helpful for quick check-ins, ongoing coaching, or when writing feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into busy lives while still working on coping strategies, behavior changes, and emotional processing.