Meet Maria Acanda, MSW, LSW
Maria Acanda, MSW, LSW
She/Her
Location: Lemont, Naperville, Telehealth
Relationship Issues, Stress Management, Trauma / PTSD
Something feels off – in your relationships, in your mind, in your body. Maybe it’s anxiety that won’t quiet down, a relationship under strain, or the lingering weight of experiences you haven’t fully processed. Whatever brought you here, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Maria Acanda has spent nearly a decade walking alongside people in some of their most difficult moments – first as an advocate and crisis counselor for at-risk youth and families, and now as a licensed therapist. That background isn’t just professional history; it’s what makes her approach so grounded. She knows what it looks like when people are really struggling, and she knows what it takes to help them find their footing again.
Maria works with individuals, couples, and families – young adults, adults, and older adults – who are facing trauma/PTSD, stress management, and relationship issues. She also supports clients in managing anxiety, depression, major life transitions, and self-worth challenges. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois and brings certifications in EMDR and Gottman Level 2, alongside training in CBT, Mindfulness, Strengths-Based therapy, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
What does that mean for you in practice? It means Maria has a deep and varied toolkit — and she’ll use exactly what fits your situation. EMDR to help your nervous system process what words alone can’t reach. Gottman methods to help couples move from conflict toward genuine connection. Mindfulness and body awareness practices to help you recognize what stress is doing inside you — and interrupt it. All of it delivered with patience, humor, and real flexibility.
“Therapy was a natural integration of my personal values and professional purpose,” Maria shares. She brings a non-judgmental curiosity to every session, creating a space that feels safe enough to be honest, collaborative enough to feel like a partnership, and structured enough to actually move forward.
The goal isn’t just to feel better in the moment. It’s to build the skills, the self-trust, and the resilience that carry you forward long after the session ends.
When she’s not in session, Maria can be found hiking with her husband and dog, crafting, or cooking. Her sense of justice runs deep — in another life, she’d likely be a judge.
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Know Maria Acanda, MSW, LSW
Naperville
Naperville
Naperville
Naperville
Naperville
Naperville
Naperville
Naperville
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
Lemont
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