Maritza Villacis, LCSW

Maritza Villacis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York. She focuses on everyday problems like stress, anxiety, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, addiction, and coping with life changes. She also offers support for aging and geriatric issues and caregiver stress. Maritza speaks English and Spanish and aims to make sessions feel natural and relatable rather than formal or clinical.

She brings 15 years of post-licensure experience and over 20 years total counseling background. Before becoming an LCSW she worked with domestic violence survivors, people in shelter placement, seniors, and children. That history shaped her practical, down-to-earth approach and her ability to connect quickly with people.

In sessions she uses straightforward techniques drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and the Gottman Method. She blends these approaches to match each person’s situation, helping clients identify unhelpful patterns, practice new skills, and process difficult feelings.

Maritza describes herself as spiritual and guided by a purpose to help others through hard moments. She values clear communication and flexibility around scheduling. She aims to respond promptly to messages and to work with clients to find workable session times.

Her bedside experience with seniors and caregiver issues informs her approach to aging-related concerns. She encourages commitment to the healing process and offers steady support as people learn coping strategies and make sense of life changes.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Many of her methods translate well to remote sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and practicing different behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people understand and shift emotional responses in relationships to improve connection and reduce conflict. Mindfulness Therapy uses simple attention and breathing practices to reduce stress and improve mood over time.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will ask about goals, preferences, and what has or has not helped before. Together they will try approaches and adjust them based on what feels most useful for the client’s situation.

Her biography notes availability for phone and video sessions only, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people join from different locations without travel. They also allow use of worksheets, guided mindfulness exercises, and real-time skill practice during the session. Licensed professionals can adapt interventions so online work feels practical and focused on everyday change.