- Person-centered approach
- Strengths-based work
- Guilt and shame focus
About Maria
Maria Celestina 'Joecel' Simkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California with six years of experience. She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, depression, and people coping with life changes. Joecel also lists concerns such as guilt and shame among her focus areas.
Joecel uses a person-centered, strengths-based way of working. She treats people as the experts in their own lives and helps them notice and use the strengths they already have. Sessions are conversational and practical, with attention to what is happening now and what the client wants to change.
Her approach is aimed at helping people make sense of painful feelings and learn small, workable steps forward. She listens for patterns that keep problems repeating, like codependency, communication problems, or feelings of emptiness. Then she helps people try different responses and practice new habits between sessions.
Joecel has experience with multicultural concerns and immigration-related stress. She also supports work around body image, sexuality, forgiveness, and rebuilding self-love after hurtful experiences. Her background includes work with post-traumatic stress and abuse, and she brings that experience into sessions without labels or judgement.
Sessions focus on clear goals and usable tools. People who come for help with guilt or shame will likely spend time naming the feelings, tracing where they come from, and testing kinder self-talk and behavior changes. The emphasis is on steady progress and learning skills that fit into everyday life.
Common therapeutic methods and how they work online
Joecel uses evidence-based techniques in a person-centered way. One common approach is trauma-informed cognitive work that helps identify unhelpful thoughts linked to traumatic memories and then practices alternative ways of thinking to reduce reactivity. This approach can help with post-traumatic stress, guilt, and persistent anxiety.Another frequent method is strengths-based problem solving, which focuses on small, doable steps. It helps people notice what works already, test new behaviors, and build momentum through repeated practice. This is useful for coping with life changes, low motivation, and issues like codependency or communication problems.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to select methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That choice may shift over time as progress and challenges become clearer.
Confirm the exact online session options before booking, as the biography does not spell out formats. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. These practical benefits often help people maintain consistency while they try out new ways of responding to guilt, shame, and related concerns.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes, and lists guilt and shame among additional focus areas.
How would she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She uses a person-centered, strengths-based approach that names the feeling, traces where it comes from, and practices kinder self-talk and behavior changes.
What is her clinical background?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with six years of experience working in California.
Where is she based and licensed?
She practices in California and holds the credential CA LCSW as listed.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a 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.