Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto, LCSW

Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto recognizes that the world changed in ways that affected everyday life, and she notes how many people have adapted to virtual ways of communicating and connecting about their relationships and well-being. She frames that shift as an opportunity to integrate mental and physical health and to use both in-person and remote methods to support recovery and growth.

She brings more than 20 years of clinical experience working with people from young adulthood through later life across hospitals, health centers, and private agencies. She earned a master’s degree from California State University, Fresno in 1993 and completed an undergraduate major in clinical psychology, building a foundation in both theory and applied care. Raised within Colombian and U.S. cultures, she is fluent in Spanish and English and draws on bicultural insight when relating to clients from diverse backgrounds.

Her advanced training culminated in a degree as a clinical social worker and the LCSW credential, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, reflecting clinical specialization and formal licensure. Her therapeutic approach is client-centered and goal oriented, combining practical, hands-on methods. She primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Systems Theory, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and an overall humanistic framework to help clients find concrete ways to manage difficulties and build a steadier sense of well-being.

CBT work focuses on identifying unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior and developing effective coping strategies. Throughout her practice she emphasizes validation, empathy, active listening, and reflective dialogue within a non-judgmental environment. She encourages taking an initial step toward support and values the collaborative work of helping each person move toward a more fulfilling life. Maria Clara Salazar-Pretto, LCSW, is honored to offer that partnership.