Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in San Francisco, CA

I have found a calling that allows me to bring my full self – head, heart, and soul – to my work.

I found this calling after a fulfilling career in social services. In addition to working as a teacher, program manager, policy advocate, and peer counselor, I have also married, raised a family, coached youth sports, and pursued mindful self-care, creativity, and personal growth.

I earned my Bachelor’s in English from Harvard and my Master’s in Counseling Psychology from The Wright Institute.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (NY & CA) with an MSW from NYU and a BA in Communications from Northwestern. With 14 years as a professional actor and teaching artist, I incorporate creativity into my eclectic therapeutic approach, which includes CBT, mindfulness, expressive arts, and psychodynamics. I specialize in supporting clients with anxiety, depression, identity exploration, relational challenges, and personal growth.

Anxiety and perfectionism have turned your mind into a battleground. Your inner critic nitpicks every interaction, leaving you exhausted by thoughts of “Damnit, why can’t I just be better!” Painful memories get louder, no matter how hard you try to ignore them. Daily invalidations of your Latina, queer, or immigrant identity sting, and you feel isolated as you keep your suffering to yourself. You’ve tried everything: doom scrolling, drinking, and self-help books, but nothing has worked. You're left feeling hopeless and weighed down.

I work with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Many of my clients are professionals who appear successful and capable on the outside but privately feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck.

I also work extensively with men and husbands who have spent years believing they should be able to handle life's challenges on their own.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than 25 years in engineering and organizational leadership. That experience gives me an appreciation for the pressures of work, relationships, family responsibilities, and the challenge of balancing competing demands while trying to keep everything together.

I’m passionate about helping those who need help mentally and emotionally

I'm an open minded individual and welcome any topics in treatment

Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. I’m Maria Zavala, a Bilingual/Bicultural Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in California. I offer a warm, supportive space where you can show up exactly as you are. I work with individuals navigating stress, life transitions, identity exploration, and emotional challenges, with a strong focus on culturally responsive care. My goal is to help you feel seen, understood, grounded, and safe while we gently explore what’s been weighing on you and begin creating a path forward that feels authentic, steady, and truly yours.

You may feel stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, overwhelmed by emotions, or unsure why certain experiences continue to affect your life. Maybe you find yourself repeating the same relationship patterns, being hard on yourself, feeling disconnected, or trying to move forward but something keeps pulling you back.

Therapy is a space to slow down, understand yourself on a deeper level, and create lasting change. Together, we will explore the roots of your struggles, reconnect with your strengths, and help you move toward greater self-trust, healing, and a life that feels more aligned with who you truly are.