Maria Russo, LCSW, CSW

Maria Russo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience in Colorado. She draws on a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Social Work to guide people through major life struggles. Maria writes plainly and meets people where they are as they seek greater balance and meaning.

She focuses on common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and addiction. Maria also helps with relationship and family challenges, parenting strain, intimacy issues, and career or life transitions. She pays attention to how past trauma can shape present choices and reactions.

In sessions she helps people identify strengths and practical steps to change unhelpful patterns. Her work includes cognitive behavioral techniques that look at thoughts and behaviors, and client-centered conversation that centers the person’s own goals. She also uses narrative and existential ideas to help people find meaning after loss or painful events.

Maria emphasizes steady, practical progress. She supports people who want clearer boundaries, better coping skills, and more satisfying relationships. Conversations cover living more in the present, reducing avoidant habits, and rebuilding self-worth.

People who connect with her can expect a compassionate, direct approach. Maria aims to help clients move from surviving toward a life with more peace, authenticity, and joy. Her style combines life experience with long clinical practice to keep work grounded and practical.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Maria uses cognitive behavioral ideas to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Client-centered work means sessions focus on the person's own goals, with the therapist listening closely and responding to what matters most to them. Existential ideas are used to look at meaning, values, and life direction after loss or big transitions, helping people clarify what matters and how they want to live.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Maria will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan if something is not helping. The process is collaborative and paced to the client's needs.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth sessions and seeing nonverbal cues. Phone sessions can fit short check-ins or low-bandwidth needs. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for brief updates, reflection between sessions, and flexible support when schedules are tight. These formats make it easier to access therapy around work, caregiving, or travel while keeping the focus on practical progress.