- Empathic listening
- Practical skills
- Culture aware
About Maria
Maria Wallgren is an ACA counsellor with seven years' experience who focuses on helping people handle stress, anxiety and life changes. She builds sessions around empathy, respect and a positive, non-judgemental stance. Maria aims to make each person feel heard and understood before working on practical next steps.
Her background spans corporate, private, higher education, psychiatric and not-for-profit settings in Australia and Europe. That variety has shaped a flexible, person-centred style. Maria often draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness ideas alongside narrative and solution-focused approaches.
In sessions she listens for the stories people tell about themselves. Then she helps them notice patterns, try small experiments and reframe unhelpful thoughts. Conversations are collaborative and paced to each person's needs rather than rushed through a set programme.
Maria has a particular interest in cultural diversity and transnational counselling. She aims to reduce stigma around mental health and supports people from different backgrounds to make sense of change and loss. She also works with relationship strain, workplace issues and self-esteem concerns.
For people experiencing panic disorder and panic attacks she emphasises gradual, practical strategies to reduce symptoms and increase confidence. The focus is on skills that can be practised between sessions and on building a clear plan for coping when anxiety rises.
Approaches you can use online with a counsellor
Maria commonly uses Client-Centred Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in her work. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening closely, reflecting what matters to the person and helping them lead the pace of change. It suits people who need a supportive space to make sense of feelings. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and actions and teaches practical skills to reduce anxiety and panic symptoms.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as progress is made.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session options before booking since formats are not specified in the profile. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling around work, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people practise techniques in everyday settings and bring real-life situations into the conversation. Appropriately qualified therapists can adapt CBT and client-centred methods to work effectively in an online setting.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
Maria works with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, low self-esteem and depression. She also supports people facing life changes, workplace issues and panic disorder and panic attacks.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a person-centred, collaborative approach that emphasises empathy and practical steps. Sessions combine listening with small experiments and skill-building tailored to each person.
How much experience does she have?
Maria has seven years of experience working in corporate, higher education, psychiatric and not-for-profit settings in Australia and Europe. That range informs her flexible approach.
Which credentials and where is she based?
She is an ACA counsellor and works in Australia. The ACA credential is given as supplied in her profile.
Are sessions available in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English. The profile notes an interest in cultural diversity and transnational counselling.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted. Prospective clients in Australia can follow the normal sign-up steps on the site.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. Exact fees should be checked during booking.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability. The questionnaire helps match needs and preferences before the first session.