Maria Bechdel

I am a licensed professional counselor based in West Virginia, and I offer telehealth sessions to children and adults across the state. I work primarily with people navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and the kind of stress that doesn't go away on its own—whether that's rooted in something that happened years ago or something happening right now. I bring warmth and steadiness to my work. I believe that healing isn't a linear process, and I meet clients wherever they are—not where I think they should be. I have a broad toolkit, including CBT, ACT, Trauma-Focused CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy, and I draw from whichever approaches fit your goals and your story. I work with children and adults of all ages, including older adults who are navigating major life changes.

My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and always grounded in respect for your lived experience. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model of therapy. Some clients come in needing practical tools right away — coping strategies, ways to interrupt anxious thought patterns, techniques to regulate when things feel out of control. Others need to slow down and make sense of their story before anything else. Often, we do both.I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as primary frameworks, along with trauma-focused approaches like Trauma-Focused CBT and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for clients processing PTSD and complex trauma. I weave in Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and Strength-Based approaches depending on what each client needs. Above all, I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important ingredients in healing — so I invest in building real trust from the start.

Expect to be welcomed — not assessed. The first session is a conversation, not an intake form read aloud. I'll ask about what's bringing you in, what your life looks like right now, and what you're hoping therapy can do for you. You don't need to have all the answers. You won't be pushed to go anywhere you're not ready to go.By the end of our first session, you'll have a clearer sense of whether we're a good fit, and we'll begin to sketch out what working together might look like. Many clients leave the first session saying they feel lighter just from having been heard. That's what I'm here for.