https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/get-started daily 0.75 2023-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1633729963920-L3NVYHY0BLXIEEYZSQR1/kitties.jpeg Your Insurance It is important that you contact your insurance company before you meet with me to inquire as to whether they will reimburse you for our sessions You should be aware that insurance plans generally limit coverage to certain diagnosable mental conditions. You should also be aware that you are responsible for verifying and understanding the limits of your insurance coverage. https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/home daily 1.0 2024-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/3f786590-a43b-4387-a10a-7e8dd2fc3472/NEW+PICTURE+OF+ME.JPG Home - Make it stand out Maria DeAlba, LMFT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/d6f928b1-a094-45c5-b2b6-70c112e95936/Paseo+Nuevo+mall.jpg Home - Location Office located in the Balboa building in bustling downtown State Street of Santa Barbara. Next to shopping, entertainment, and great food. https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/contact daily 0.75 2024-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1632762958782-LV6AJK4I7K7414NYJJ2C/balboa_building.jpg Contact - Make it stand out Street parking available: Free 75 minute You also have option of parking in the Paseo Nuevo Mall parking lots for 75 minutes free and $3.00 there after. Our sessions are typically 50 minutes in length. https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/team daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1633734014286-NXVYBRRZSQWUK1E0OJXU/funny+faces.png About Me - Make it stand out Oh and, I’m a pretty “normal” mom; I think… not sure what my kids would say… I guess it depends on which one you ask! Lol. https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/services daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635459256431-CKTXJKO3CX6FYMNX2HBJ/Down+the+rabbit+hole.jpg My Practice As a mother of six, with children ranging in age from 14 to 29, I bring a wealth of personal experience in navigating the challenges of raising children in today’s complex world. This journey has deepened my understanding of the teenage experience and the unique language that accompanies it. In addition to my personal insights, I am also a trained therapist dedicated to supporting parents as they navigate these pivotal years. My office is a vibrant, welcoming space designed to foster both learning and comfort. It’s equipped with snacks for hungry bellies and a variety of art supplies and therapeutic tools that help children express their feelings—especially those who may be less inclined to share verbally. A whiteboard is always on hand for interactive teaching and brainstorming. I strive to create an engaging environment where both parents and teens can thrive. We explore the world together through diverse methods, including interactive workbooks, films, documentaries, TED talks, and other media. My goal is to empower families to process their experiences and emotions in meaningful ways, drawing from both my personal journey and professional knowledge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/4e3751d6-5d41-4748-bc49-537c85739f29/PICTURE+SHARK.jpg My Practice - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1647651057848-J82X660U9BUVMJS1G679/unsplash-image-OAnydGhhcxE.jpg My Practice - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1647651159454-GA7CH4XWRIEL9U167N2K/unsplash-image-sNwnjxm8eTY.jpg My Practice - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/online-counseling daily 0.75 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635371137541-PA75XZP5RGU7ODNEXB42/unsplash-image-C11UKrFo4CQ.jpg Telehealth - Video Conferencing and Phone Sessions Telehealth sessions provide a convenient way to receive therapy from the comfort of your own space while maintaining the quality of care. Benefits include increased access to services and flexibility in scheduling. Telehealth may not be appropriate for all concerns, and suitability is assessed individually at the start of each session. Telehealth carries potential risks, including technical interruptions, unauthorized access, or other unforeseen issues. I take all reasonable precautions to protect your privacy and confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and California privacy standards. Currently, I use Simple Practice and Zoom for telehealth sessions. Location Requirement: Telehealth services are generally available only to clients physically located in California. In certain circumstances, I may seek permission to provide services to clients in other states in accordance with that state’s licensing regulations. If you are outside California, please contact me to discuss whether permission has been obtained for your location. Provider Information: Maria DeAlba, LMFT #123745 – Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, California https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/teenagers daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635377025435-Z49RQ5SXBUMH54OWU5BV/GettyImages-1157859955.jpg Parenting Teenagers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635378027536-GKWT42TH7CSOS09P7TWB/unsplash-image-umFPf301OjQ.jpg Parenting Teenagers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635377141030-R0XYAUXU7DZ1FDQOE15K/unsplash-image-qQzw8jPvip8.jpg Parenting Teenagers - Make it stand out Oh, How I Miss the 80’ and 90’s! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635379789178-3ZQWYHPFUO481PHCJG24/unsplash-image-9VJ0aNgJJT8.jpg Parenting Teenagers - The hours we once spent laughing at Beavis and Butt-Head or dancing to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air have been replaced by a 24-hour news cycle right in the palm of their hands. No pressure, right? Between screen time, academics, sports, and the endless pressure of social interactions—including bullying and self-esteem issues—teens are under a lot of stress. What’s worse is the paralyzing anxiety they often don’t talk about, but their bodies sure have plenty to say! I’m not just talking about the usual teenage worries—like whether they’ll make the team or if their crush likes them back. I’m talking about the sheer chaos of the world we live in. Our kids are genuinely freaked out by everything from the latest virus to the unhinged news coverage that feels like a never-ending horror movie. Kids today are convinced that they—or someone they love—might not make it through the next pestilence. I mean, I don’t remember a time when kids were so preoccupied with their mortality. And let’s be real, the virus isn’t the only thing causing anxiety these days. Between the violence overseas, the threats from dictators, and the realities in our own backyards—like the Isla Vista tragedy and the gang violence we hear about—it's no wonder they’re feeling overwhelmed. Back in my school days, we had earthquake drills and the classic “stop, drop, and roll.” Remember how exciting it was when someone accidentally pulled the fire alarm? (Spoiler alert: not as exciting for kids today!) Now they have active shooter drills and lockdowns, which have unfortunately become the norm. It’s a lot to handle, I know, but it’s the reality of our world today. We need to prioritize our children’s well-being, especially since teens are at the highest risk for developing mental health disorders, including substance abuse issues. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635378440623-HJ1IQF8VFTUT9ZFP8WXW/unsplash-image-KzvMsXgJ1VU.jpg Parenting Teenagers https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/domestic-violence-men daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/cinema-therapy daily 0.75 2024-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1634847267495-VCL9SQJEW0W1VOPC4F3E/unsplash-image-J39X2xX_8CQ.jpg Cinema Therapy Cinema Therapy https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/paren daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635444169179-I702F1NV3TIWVZ28JGAE/unsplash-image-sCdm5DiJb8w.jpg Therapy for Parents - Make it stand out What it May Look Like https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635445314952-APOA1QZ8IHGE3FIAZZV3/soap.jpg Therapy for Parents - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635448367348-F3S8BVIH26EPQEN5O96S/George+Jetson.jpg Therapy for Parents - I made that quite clear when he walked in through the front door; poor guy! I mean, who wants to come home to needy kids and teens asking for money for everything after a long day of work? I can’t blame him for thinking I was living the dream while he was grinding away. I was just as guilty of underestimating his responsibilities and used to think he wasn’t doing much either. In my mind, I pictured him sitting at his computer all day, blissfully isolated in his office—no kids, no messes, no cooking! I imagined he never had to endure a 30-minute hold just to speak to someone about why our bills were mysteriously higher than usual. Did you know kids have a special talent for leaving every light in the house on? Anyway, I imagined my husband just pushing “buttons” on his keyboard, living a life straight out of The Jetsons. George Jetson sits there pushing buttons, and Mr. Spacely pops in every now and then to keep him on his toes. If only real life were that simple! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1635453668023-SY535D4M02GY0Z41VRLE/Tom+and+Jerry.jpg Therapy for Parents - I imagined it was the same for Mr. DeAlba, who was likely dodging his boss to avoid yet another round of endless conversations about numbers and deadlines. Spending hours in redundant meetings, he must have wished he could use toothpicks like Tom the Cat from Tom and Jerry just to keep his eyes open! Not to mention the relentless phone calls from patrons hurling profanities in both Spanish and English—because nothing says “customer service” like a heated debate over debt collection. So glad he works in managing peoples money now as opposed to trying to collect it. And so it went, day in and day out. Thankfully, things started to improve—just a little—as our kids got older and he landed a better job. Who knew that the key to a happier home life was simply waiting for the kids to grow up and for him to escape the clutches of corporate chaos? Then Puberty Hits! https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/single-parents daily 0.75 2024-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Single Parents https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Single Parents https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/fees daily 0.75 2024-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1702086348076-865M63ZIEX91I5KHPXJ5/image-asset.jpeg Fees https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1702086518747-3HH1BUHLGVM9R4MC62HE/image-asset.jpeg Fees https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1702086615674-P6CVOLDX6YLUVXYPH7FR/image-asset.jpeg Fees https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/for-teens daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1636501071590-A67Q6HSWLM8ZFMJ4SSWA/unsplash-image-w1FwDvIreZU.jpg Therapy for Adolescents https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1636501174307-M677T3BC0O0JEQ2YT4C8/unsplash-image-Jnxtlv_Fo14.jpg Therapy for Adolescents https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1636501382130-S80BZHN9PKDHM6N5JQCA/unsplash-image-x1_gmkEbsM4.jpg Therapy for Adolescents https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/new-page daily 0.75 2021-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/3b1355f0-0356-46b2-8505-e1ac1a2ab61f/Jehovah.jpg New Page - Jehovah’s Sheep For those Christians’ seeking refuge in solidarity and discernment in a therapeutic setting, there is a safe haven for you to express your feelings. I provide therapy for Jehovah’s Witnesses who desire their therapeutic experience to be in alignment with Jehovah’s principles. For Information on Jehovah’s Witnesses : JW.org https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/faqs daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/8d8aa93d-80fa-499a-82f9-ae12305f0ae9/unsplash-image-NTur2_QKpg0.jpg FAQs - What happens during the first therapy session? Following our complimentary 15-minute phone consultation, we will schedule a date and time that is convenient for both of us. Prior to our first session, I will email you several forms, including a Disclosure Statement outlining the services I provide, a Notice of Privacy Practices, a Good Faith Estimate, and a few general assessments to help identify your needs and any challenges or symptoms you may be experiencing. While completing these forms is important, I prioritize using our first session to discuss your specific needs and what you hope to achieve through therapy. Introductions are a vital part of our process, and I encourage you to ask appropriate personal questions to help us get to know each other better. While I maintain professional boundaries to the highest standards, I understand that sitting with someone who doesn’t share anything about themselves can feel intimidating for many clients. I aim to strike a balance that makes our sessions comfortable and engaging. I will send you forms via the client portal through Simple Practice. Please take the time to read them carefully, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the information provided. Some forms will require your electronic signature and date. Where do sessions take place? Sessions can take place in my office, video via Zoom and or Simple Practice, phone, outdoors, and in some circumstances in your home. How do I know if I or my teen really need therapy? If you find yourself struggling to manage day-to-day activities, feeling overwhelmed by negative thoughts, or facing relentless feelings of sadness, it may be time to seek support. You might notice changes in your sleep patterns, such as insomnia or sleeping too much. Perhaps your eating habits have shifted, or you’re spending less time with friends and family than you used to. You may be experiencing memory lapses, increased arguments, or a persistent sense of anger and irritability. If you feel defeated by life, these are signs that reaching out for help could be beneficial. Sometimes, friends, family members, or medical professionals recommend therapy due to physical symptoms associated with anxiety or depression. It’s important to remember that seeking help—whether for yourself or for your teen—should never be a source of shame. Many people feel this way, but taking that step can lead to positive change and healing. I’m here to support you on this journey. Do you treat individuals with severe mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, or high-risk clients with substance use disorders or a history of suicide attempts? At this time, I do not treat severe mental health disorders. In the past, I had the opportunity to work alongside a skilled team that specialized in treating clients with such conditions. In my private practice, I focus exclusively on clients with mild to moderate disorders, including mild to moderate cannabis and alcohol use. Please call 911 if you or someone you know is in danger of harming themselves. You can also reach the Santa Barbara County Access Line 24 hours a day 7 days a week. How often will I need to come to therapy? The frequency of your counseling sessions will depend on your individual needs and your commitment to the therapeutic process. Typically, we meet weekly to assess your progress and adjust your goals as necessary. Most clients choose to commit to a 12-week (3-month) program, at which point we will evaluate your progress to ensure you are on track to achieve your goals. Sessions are generally held once a week for 50 minutes. For some clients, especially those considering Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) or more intensive therapy, twice-weekly sessions may be beneficial. Please refer to the "Fees" section for the cost per session for DBT, as it differs from standard session rates. How long will I need to come to Therapy? The duration of counseling is variable and depends on your individual needs, or those of your teen. Most clients begin to see progress and feel improvements within three months or sooner. For individuals facing more complex challenges, a commitment of six months may be beneficial. The goal of therapy is not to prolong the process, but rather to empower you to reach a level of confidence and well-being that allows you to function independently. Of course, clients are always welcome to return for support if unmanageable challenges arise or if they require maintenance therapy. Do you have evening and weekend appointments available? I do not offer sessions during evenings and weekends, as I prioritize self-care, which is essential for everyone, including therapists. This time is reserved for my family. How much do sessions cost? Initial (first) session $250 ( 75-90 min) Individual Therapy Sessions $200 (50 min) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) $220 per session (60 min) Click here for more info on cost of therapy Are sessions covered by my insurance? I do not accept any form of private insurance. However, some clients may be eligible for reimbursement for sessions through their insurance providers. Please refer to the next question for more information. All Major credit cards accepted as well as FSA/HSA How do I seek reimbursement from my insurance company? I am not directly contracted with any private insurance companies. However, I do provide a Superbill, which you can submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement using your out-of-network benefits. Do You accept Cen-Cal insurance? I have a limited number of CENCAL (State Medi-Cal) slots available; however, these are currently not open. At this time, there is no waiting list. https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/new-page-1 daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/terms-and-conditions daily 0.75 2026-03-31 https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/cencal daily 0.75 2024-10-13 https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/young-adults daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/60ff34eb6e4ee6002b256a25/1647462831327-WPOMGFH32U9M5JWU0OKB/unsplash-image-Nv-vx3kUR2A.jpg Therapy for Young Adults - Make it stand out “Every generation, it seems, bemoans the irresponsibility and self-indulgence of the one that follows.” -Nancy E. Hill and Alexis Redding https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/brief-therapy daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/individual-therapy daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt daily 0.75 2024-11-08 https://www.mariadealbalmft.com/good-faith-estimate daily 0.75 2024-11-15