About Maria
Maria Slaughter is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and holds Georgia social work credentials listed as LCSW and CSW. She brings seven years of hands-on experience to counseling and focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and depression. Maria also supports clients navigating sexuality, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and compassion fatigue.
She has worked in community settings with people affected by HIV/AIDS and has experience in hospice and end-of-life care.
Background and approach
Her background includes roles at an LGBT community center, an HIV linkage program, and behavioral health work with people experiencing homelessness. Maria currently provides hospice social work in the Atlanta area. In sessions she uses a client-centered, strengths-based style.
That means conversations are guided by each person’s priorities and lived experience. She also draws on cognitive behavioral and mindfulness strategies to help people see patterns and try small, practical changes. Maria often focuses on short-term goals and skill-building.
Solution-focused methods help people identify immediate steps that feel doable. She aims to create a warm, accepting space where clients can set clear goals and reduce day-to-day stress. Her training includes a Master’s degree in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University, a bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University, and an associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College.
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
How these approaches work online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s lead. The therapist creates space for people to talk about what matters most and helps them set their own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It involves identifying unhelpful patterns and trying practical exercises to change them, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Maria will collaborate with each person to see which methods match their needs, goals, and comfort level. That might mean blending client-centered listening with CBT exercises or trying mindfulness tools to manage stress. The plan is adjusted based on what helps in weekly sessions.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls are useful for face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be a good choice when bandwidth is limited or a hands-free option is needed. Live chat and text messaging work well for quick check-ins, brief coaching, or when someone prefers written communication. These formats help people fit therapy into work, caregiving, school, or travel schedules while staying consistent with agreed goals and homework.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Adoption and foster care
- Anger management
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Life purpose
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 7 years
- Licensed
- Ohio, Georgia
- Languages
- English