Maria Frassinelli Sierra

Compassionate clinical social worker for life transitions

LCSW, LICSW Connecticut

Experience: 25 years in practice
Focus areas: Grief, Self esteem, Coping with life changes
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Maria

Maria Frassinelli Sierra brings a client-centered, strengths-focused approach to therapy, helping people facing grief, medical challenges, and major life transitions recognize and use their resilience. She prioritizes collaboration, meeting each person where they are and working together to identify practical strategies that reduce stress and improve daily functioning.

Background and approach

With 25 years of professional social work experience, Maria draws on her background in medical social work to support individuals and families coping with cancer diagnoses, chronic illness, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and related caregiver stress. She also assists clients with issues like anxiety, compassion fatigue, career decisions, self-esteem, fertility and pregnancy concerns, and LGBT-related matters.

Her clinical toolkit includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). Maria holds dual social work licenses - LCSW and LICSW - and practices in Connecticut, offering therapeutic support tailored to each person’s goals and life circumstances.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Options

Maria often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and build practical skills for managing anxiety, stress, and changes related to illness or life transitions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is another common thread in her work, focusing on values-driven action and learning to live alongside difficult emotions rather than avoiding them. Client-Centered Therapy provides the connective tissue for these techniques by emphasizing empathy, collaboration, and respect for the client’s own expertise about their life.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Maria works with each person to explore which methods fit their goals, preferences, and circumstances, and adjusts the plan over time to reflect progress and changing needs. That collaborative stance helps clients feel engaged and supported as they try different strategies.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for people balancing medical appointments, caregiving, work, or travel. Services are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing clients to connect in the format that best suits their schedule and comfort. These options can make it easier to maintain consistent care and apply new skills between sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns can I bring to therapy?

Maria works with a broad range of issues including grief, coping with life changes, stress, anxiety, self-esteem, career questions, and LGBT related concerns. She also addresses medical and caregiving stressors such as cancer, chronic illness, hospice and end-of-life matters.

What therapeutic approaches does she use?

Treatment blends evidence-informed methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). These approaches are chosen to match the client’s goals and needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 25 years of professional social work experience, with a strong background in medical social work and supporting people through illness, caregiving challenges, and end-of-life concerns.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

Maria is credentialed as LCSW and LICSW with licensing details CT LCSW 6023 and MA LICSW LICSW127851, and she practices in Connecticut.

Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are provided in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available?

She offers multiple remote formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are sessions priced?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process to begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Grief Self esteem Coping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTCareer difficulties

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveSexualityVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Connecticut, Massachusetts

Languages

English