Maria Russo, LCSW, CSW

Maria Russo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience based in Colorado. She combines professional training with long personal work on childhood trauma to help people find more ease and purpose in life. Maria listens closely and helps people identify practical steps they can take to feel better day to day.

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, and changes that come with major life transitions. She also supports people dealing with relationship challenges, parenting strains, career shifts, and intimacy-related concerns. Aging and geriatric issues are listed among her focus areas, and she brings that perspective to conversations about life stage and care decisions.

Maria uses approaches rooted in client-centered work, cognitive behavioral ideas, existential questions, motivational interviewing, and narrative practices. In sessions she helps people notice unhelpful patterns, test new ways of responding, and reframe personal stories that keep them stuck. She aims for clear, doable strategies rather than long talks with no follow-through.

Her method emphasizes strengths and personal meaning. Maria helps clients connect with their values, build coping skills, and make realistic plans for change. She also addresses the emotional fallout of trauma and loss in ways that respect each person's pace.

People who choose her often want a blend of practical tools and deeper reflection. To begin, prospective clients use the site's Start Therapy process to match and schedule according to availability. Sessions are conducted in English for people located in Colorado.

How her approaches translate to online work

Maria often uses client-centered therapy to keep sessions focused on the person’s needs and priorities. This approach means the therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps clients decide which topics to tackle first. Client-centered work suits people who want a supportive, nonjudgmental space to name their goals.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT includes simple exercises to test negative beliefs and try different behaviors, and it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Narrative therapy appears in her practice as well, helping people rewrite limiting stories and place painful events in a broader life context.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. Maria will talk with each person about their goals and try methods that fit their needs and preferences. Together they track what helps and adjust the plan over time.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session formats before booking so you know what options are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week and to use brief check-ins or longer sessions as needed. It also lets clients practice new skills between meetings and bring real-life situations into the conversation for immediate feedback.