- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Guilt and shame
About Joan
Joan Maltese is a California psychologist (CA Psychologist 7761) with 40 years of professional experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Joan communicates plainly and directly about practical concerns such as motivation and confidence.
Clients meet a clinician who asks clear questions and listens for the patterns under repeating thoughts and actions. Joan helps people name what they are feeling and where those feelings come from. Conversations are intended to reduce overwhelm and make the next steps easier to see.
Her work often looks at attachment and codependency, and at communication problems that keep relationships stuck. She also addresses divorce, separation, forgiveness, and the heavy feelings of guilt and shame that follow conflicts or choices. Joan helps people sort through isolation, midlife shifts, and workplace strain.
Sessions also cover life purpose and cultivating more self-love, with attention to how old beliefs shape current choices. Her approach emphasizes building awareness and testing new behaviors in everyday life. Joan invites clients to notice small changes and to practice different responses between sessions.
She encourages a steady pace: noticing what is hard, naming it, and trying one manageable change. The goal in her work is clearer thinking and more useful ways of handling stress rather than quick fixes. Joan accepts English-speaking clients and works with international clients who can schedule from different locations.
Approaches people try online and how they fit
Joan uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques aimed at clear thinking and practical change. One common approach focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing more useful beliefs through small experiments; this helps with anxiety, guilt, and low confidence by showing which thoughts are accurate and which are not. Another approach examines attachment patterns and communication habits to help people understand why relationships repeat the same problems and to practice new ways of connecting and setting boundaries.Choosing the best approach is usually collaborative. Joan will talk with each person about their goals, current challenges, and what feels most manageable. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust the plan as progress becomes clearer.
The profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm the exact online options before booking. Online work can make scheduling easier, allow shorter check-ins between in-person visits, and reduce travel time so therapy fits into a busy day. It also makes it possible for international clients who speak English to access her services from other locations. If you prefer details about session length or format, check the booking information when you complete the questionnaire.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
40+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and coping with life changes, plus related issues such as attachment, codependency, and guilt and shame.
How would she approach feelings of shame or guilt?
She helps people identify the beliefs behind those feelings and practices small changes in thought and behavior to test different outcomes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 40 years of professional work experience as a psychologist in California.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California psychologist listed as CA Psychologist 7761 and is based in California.
Does she work with nonlocal or international clients?
Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.
What session formats are offered?
The profile does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.