Maria Gracia Abad

Therapy with me is collaborative, curious, and tailored to you. I pay close attention to your thoughts, emotions, and patterns, and I ask questions that help you notice, reflect, and gain insight. My style is thoughtful and analytical: I listen carefully, but I’m never passive. I intervene when it’s helpful, offering reflection, clarification, or gentle challenge to support your growth. A key focus of my work is understanding how you relate to yourself, especially if you tend to rely on thinking, analysing, or self-reliance to manage emotional experiences. While these strategies are often strengths, they can sometimes lead to feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or caught in cycles of self-criticism. In therapy, we explore these patterns with curiosity rather than judgement, creating space for both insight and change. Some sessions are reflective, exploring emotions and experiences; others are more practical, focusing on strategies or small experiments. The balance depends on what you need at the time. I draw on evidence-based approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), EMDR, and person-centered therapy, tailored to your personal needs. Clients often tell me they feel more grounded, clearer, and more connected to themselves over time. My aim is to help you understand your experiences, reduce self-blame, and develop more supportive ways of responding to life. In our first sessions, we’ll talk about what brings you here and identify what you’d like to get out of therapy. Together, we’ll create a direction that feels right for you, whether that involves processing past experiences, navigating current challenges, or developing new ways of responding. Therapy can start wherever you are. Some people come knowing exactly what they want to work on, while others may need time to build trust and feel comfortable engaging in the process. I am here to support you in either case, helping you move at a pace that feels safe and meaningful. If your needs fall outside my area of expertise, I will support you in finding appropriate alternatives, as ensuring you receive the right care is an important part of my practice. I understand that reaching out for therapy can feel uncertain or daunting, but you’ve already taken the first step by being here. If you're ready to explore what healing and self-understanding can look like, I would be glad to support you. The best way to reach me is by email or by leaving a voicemail with your name, number, and best time to call back. I may be in session and unable to answer, but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.