Liberation Psychology

I work with adults and teens from all walks of life who are ready to do meaningful, honest work in therapy, including those navigating anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, relationship challenges, and the everyday witnessing of trying to build a life that feels authentic. I have particular depth working with women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, BIPOC clients, and neurodivergent people, and I welcome couples learning how to stand beside each other through the seasons. What matters most is not the reason someone arrives, but their willingness to examine their lives.

I work the way a good gardener works, with patience, with the right tool for the right season. That might mean ACT or DBT for the practical, present moment; IFS or Narrative Therapy for the parts of a person's story that have gone unheard; somatic work for what the body has been holding onto; there are many tools for each task.

Here's the truth: you don't need a good enough reason to reach out to a therapist. You are allowed to ask for help. You don't have to have it figured out before you walk through the door. You just have to be tired enough of the old way to try something else.

Services

Available: Online only (telehealth)

Offerings: Individual one-on-one therapy/coaching; Couple sessions; Free 15-minute consultation

Location: WA (online services)

Specialties and expertise

Autism; ADHD; Body Image; Career Counseling; Chronic Illness; Chronic Pain; Coping Skills; Grief; LGBTQ+; Life Coaching; Life Transitions; Neurodivergent; Nutrition and Health; Self Esteem; Sex-Positive, Kink Allied; Spirituality; Stress; Women's Issues; Bisexual; Lesbian; Trans; Certified Yoga Life Coach

Client focus

Ages: Teens, Adults

Participants: Individuals, Couples

Allied communities: Bisexual, Gay, Intersex, Lesbian, Non-Binary, Queer, Transgender, Racial Justice, Disabilities, POC

 Approach

Preferred orientation: Liberation Psychology. 

This orientation prioritizes empowerment, critical consciousness, and validation of lived experience, especially for clients from historically marginalized communities. It approaches concerns by examining how systems (e.g., racism, classism, gender-based violence, and family power) interact with internal emotional experience. Instead of asking "What is wrong with the client?" it asks "What has happened, in what social context?"

Psychological symptoms are understood as meaningful responses to injustice, trauma, and disempowerment. Change occurs through increasing awareness of these forces, reducing internalized oppression, fostering agency, and supporting clients in reclaiming power over their narratives, choices, and identities. Healing is both individual and relational, restoring dignity, voice, and self-worth.

I integrate DBT & CBT skills, mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to provide practical, actionable tools that complement insight work and support day-to-day resilience.

Also informed by: Integrative, Person-Centered, Somatic, Strength-Based, Culturally Sensitive, Multicultural, Humanistic, ACT, IFS, Interpersonal.

Fees & payment

Individual sessions: $150  Couple sessions: $170

Sliding scale: Available (apply to check eligibility)

Payment methods: American Express, Discover, Mastercard, PayPal, Venmo, Visa

Qualifications

Provider: Dr. Santa Maria, PhD, MA/Msc (they/them)

Verified by Psychology Today

Licenses: LMHC-A

Education: MA & PhD in Psychology

Additional credential: MSc Clinical Counseling