Maria Conforti

Compassionate, pragmatic therapy for real change

LCSW Illinois

Experience: 16 years in practice
Focus areas: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English, Italian

About Maria

Maria Conforti is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 16 years of varied practice across settings such as independent practice, group homes, community resources, and non-profit work in Illinois.

Background and approach

Her experience has included pediatric ADHD support, couples therapy with a focus on sexual dynamics, divorce mediation emphasizing child well-being and co-parenting, and running integration and group programs for at-risk youth and young women facing self-esteem challenges. She combines clinical training with practical, solution-focused interventions.

Her approach is eclectic and collaborative, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with dialectical behavior techniques and attachment-informed work to shape individualized treatment plans. Maria emphasizes a compassionate, nonjudgmental stance while also being direct about the work that needs to be done.

She uses psychodynamic insight when helpful to trace how early experiences influence current patterns, then moves toward practical strategies for making peace, offering forgiveness when appropriate, and helping clients identify and pursue what they want from life. Maria aims to equip people with tools for a life that needs less therapy rather than ongoing dependence on it.

She seeks clients who are ready for change, willing to engage honestly in the process, and open to being stretched out of familiar patterns in service of lasting growth.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Maria draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns, then develop practical skills to shift behaviors and improve day-to-day functioning. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is also part of her toolkit, focusing on values-driven action and learning to live with difficult thoughts while moving toward meaningful goals. Attachment-Based Therapy informs her work around relationship dynamics, helping clients explore how early bonds shape current connections and repair patterns that hinder intimacy.

Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. She works with clients to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and will suggest ways of integrating methods so the plan reflects what the client wants to accomplish rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to offer flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These formats make it easier to maintain consistency, access care from varied locations, and try different interaction modes to see what best supports progress while balancing everyday life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Maria commonly address?

She works with relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, coaching needs, and ADHD, and also addresses related issues like attachment, communication problems, codependency, and chronic illness challenges.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative and eclectic, blending practical, solution-focused interventions with compassionate directness and occasional psychodynamic exploration to understand underlying patterns.

What is her clinical experience background?

She has 16 years of experience across settings including independent practice, group homes, incarceration-related work, community resources, and non-profit programs.

What credentials and location information are listed?

Maria is an LCSW licensed in Illinois with licence number IL LCSW 149015992 and practices from Illinois.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English and Italian, and she is available to accept international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as options for working together.

How are costs and billing handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are involved in getting started?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesTrauma and abuse GriefCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMulticultural concernsNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

16+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English, Italian