Maria Wallgren, ACA

Maria Wallgren centres her work on building respectful, empathic relationships where people can explore their concerns without judgement. She approaches each person with warmth and positivity, drawing on a holistic, person-centred and eclectic framework to tailor practical, creative strategies to individual needs.

Maria has worked across corporate, private, higher education, psychiatric and not-for-profit settings in Australia and Europe, in roles both as a counsellor and in other professional capacities. She supports adults facing a range of presenting issues including stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, depression and life transitions, and she often focuses on communication problems, control issues, guilt and shame, isolation, life purpose and workplace challenges.

With a strong interest in cultural diversity and transnational counselling, Maria is committed to reducing stigma around mental health and to supporting clients from varied backgrounds. She values the stories people bring and believes individuals are the experts in their own lives. It is her privilege to help others reflect on their experiences and continue to write their own story.

Therapeutic approaches suited to online care

Maria draws on client-centred, cognitive behavioural and mindfulness approaches to support people online. Client-centred therapy focuses on listening with empathy and helping clients explore their own values and choices, which can be especially helpful for issues around identity, relationships and life direction. Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, examines how thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact and offers practical skills to reduce symptoms of anxiety, panic and depression. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-moment awareness and simple attention practices that can help manage stress, rumination and emotional overwhelm.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Maria works with each person to understand their goals, preferences and life context and then adapts techniques from different approaches to find the best fit together with the client. This flexible, person-centred stance helps shape a plan that feels manageable and meaningful.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging make therapy more accessible for people balancing work, family or geographical constraints. These options allow appointments to fit daily routines, offer continuity when life is busy or in transition, and support ongoing work between sessions with a mode that suits the client and their circumstances.