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Macarena Santelices, MD, LCPC, LPCC

Based in California Online sessions

Seasoned clinician for parenting and life changes

Book with Macarena
Years in practice
14
Credentials
MD, LCPC, LPCC
Licensed in
California, Maryland
Languages
English
Focus
Stress, Anxiety
Focus
Relationship issues
Focus
Family conflicts
About

About Macarena

Macarena Santelices is a licensed clinician with 14 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Parents looking for practical support around parenting and life transitions will find her straightforward approach easy to follow.

She sees the person, not just the problem. Macarena believes clients are the experts on their own lives and that therapy is a cooperative process. Sessions focus on clear goals and small, manageable steps that fit day-to-day life.

Background and approach

Her background includes work in California and Maryland, and she holds an MD as well as LCPC and LPCC credentials. That experience shaped a practical style that blends skill-building with thoughtful conversation. Sessions aim to strengthen coping skills and improve communication patterns.

Macarena uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to help people change unhelpful thoughts and manage intense emotions. She also incorporates mindfulness practices to build moment-to-moment awareness and reduce rumination. The techniques are taught in simple, concrete ways that can be practiced between sessions.

She helps people tackle family conflict, relationship concerns, caregiver stress, and the strain of life changes. Common themes include attachment and abandonment worries, body image, guilt and shame, and struggles with motivation. The work is paced to fit each person's needs and daily responsibilities.

For someone looking for direct, compassionate guidance, Macarena offers a blend of practical skills and supportive listening. She focuses on achievable progress and meeting clients where they are.

Focus areas and approaches

What Macarena works with

Everything Macarena lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Macarena helps people with.

Approaches Macarena lists

Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.

Online support

Therapeutic approaches for online parenting support

Macarena commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thought patterns. CBT involves identifying specific thoughts and testing them against daily evidence, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and effective communication. DBT-style exercises focus on practical tools for handling intense feelings and resolving interpersonal conflict.

Mindfulness practices are used to increase present-moment awareness and reduce overthinking. Simple breathing and attention exercises are taught so they can be used during stressful parenting moments or when rumination begins.

Choosing which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss your goals, preferences, and daily demands to decide what techniques to try first. Plans are adjusted over time based on what helps you make steady, manageable changes.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls let you work face-to-face; phone sessions can fit a shorter break or require less bandwidth. Live chat and messaging are useful for quick check-ins, between-session coaching, or when typing feels easier than talking. These options make it easier to fit regular sessions into a busy parenting schedule.
Questions

Questions people ask about Macarena

What issues does she help address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, self esteem, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include attachment, body image, caregiver stress, and mood concerns.

What is her therapy style like?

Sessions are collaborative and goal-focused with clear, practical steps. Expect a mix of skill practice, conversation, and applied techniques you can use between sessions.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 14 years of professional experience working in clinical settings in California and Maryland. That background informs a pragmatic approach to common life and parenting stresses.

What credentials and location are listed?

She holds MD, LCPC, and CA LPCC credentials and is based in California. Those are the exact credentials provided.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Therapy is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Formats can be chosen to match practical needs like time or bandwidth.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on the chosen plan.

How do I begin working together?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

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