Maria is, hands down, the most incredible therapist I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I have been with Maria for about a year now, and I know she will be a part of my life forever. I have grown in ways I couldn't have even imagined- I have learned how to set boundaries, I have found more confidence, peace, and self-love, and most of all, I have had such a supportive space to work through grief. One thing I really love about Maria is that she humanizes the hardships I bring into each session in a way that makes them feel much less isolating. I have also always been on some form of medication, but with Maria, we work through the root of each problem so that I am in a place where I no longer need a band-aid to numb the pain. She has taught me how to work through it instead so that I can heal. She is truly amazing and gifted at what she does. She also offers group therapy and retreats, which are an amazing place to find community, support, and people who can relate. I think getting immersed in group and retreat settings has helped me go so much deeper, gain courage, and feel strong in the knowledge that I am not alone. Maria has always made me feel heard, seen, valued, and never alone. She truly cares about her clients and has such a big heart. I could not say enough good things about her to truly show the impact she has made on my life. If you want deep healing and a caring therapist, Maria is absolutely for you. read more

Inner peace in San Diego is a jewel! A place away from home but close to home somewhere where you can relax and truly find your inner peace. It's a special place run by special people. I highly recommend it. I highly recommend you going there it's one of those places rare to find but amazing once you find! read more

I have worked with Maria for the past 4 years. In that time my life has changed drastically and Maria has been a big influence on my positive growth. Being part of the self development groups and retreats is unparalleled. One of my favorite aspects about the group work is the creative aspect Maria weaves into the process. There is something so powerful about Maria's facilitation and the support of a group of people putting joint effort into the work of healing. Working with Maria one on one has also been extremely helpful, she is a straight shooter, which I appreciate and is hard to find with counselors. She also uses affirmations, which I find very helpful. If you are sick of your own BS and are truly ready to experience change and growth, I recommend working with Maria. read more

A friend recommended Maria to me a few weeks back, though they prefer not to be mentioned here. Apparently, they'd been asked to leave a review and refer people they knew. While my friend had a decent experience, I came away with a different impression. Maria didn't come across as trustworthy to me, and I didn't find her very pleasant on the phone. She was a bit rude and, on our first call, pushed me to sign up for a pricey retreat at her guest house in Idyllwild. After doing some research, I found out she isn't a licensed therapist, so you'd be paying out of pocket for sessions with someone who's essentially self-appointed. Edit: As a therapist, you should know about CA laws regarding privacy and the release of information. Mentioning you have no evidence of my call isn't accurate and I am in no way obligated to release any further details regarding my call and or questions of service. read more

Maria is the worst therapist I've ever seen. I regret wasting $200 an hour to see her. I came in with high expectations, by our third session she forgot my first name. My FIRST NAME. She blamed it on my name coming up different on Caller ID, which was simply a typo from my cell phone provider. I NEVER told her that was my name ever. When I brought up an abusive relationship that I had talked about extensively in our first session, she had forgot all about it and asked me to rehash everything again! Every other therapist I've had takes notes and reviews these notes for each client, so we DON'T have to rehash because you "forgot". Additionally, our last appointment was via FaceTime and she spent the entirety of the session walking around her house and doing things around her house. Looking at the camera maybe half the time. I felt unheard, disrespected, and EXTREMELY hurt and disappointed. After I confronted her with this, she took no responsibility. I asked for a refund for the last session since she was not giving me her undivided attention I paid $200 for and she refused. HORRIBLE, DO NOT waste your money on this "therapist". read more

Maria has been a true blessing in my life! She is my therapist and now a friend I can trust and count on. She has helped me work through years of deep rooted pain and trauma that I thought I could bury for ever. She has challenged me and pushed me to break through all of my self limiting beliefs that hold me back. Maria has given me tools to evolve and make better decisions each day. I've worked with her one on one, joined her group therapy sessions, and I've attended a retreat - which I highly recommend. She has created a safe space for everyone and truly cares about her clients. I'm very thankful for her. read more

I found Maria through Yelp in 2015 when I was going through a REALLY rough patch. I had just moved to San Diego, first time living alone, not doing great in my relationships and was very lonely. Working with Maria helped shape who I am today and gave me a large set of tools that I can use to be more present, show up for myself and others in a meaningful way. In addition to that, I did several groups and a retreat with Maria which really helped with me having a support system and a community for me in San Diego. Over the years, I have experienced many highs and lows and Maria has been a constant coach, therapist, mentor, friend to hold me accountable and continually helping me on this growth path. I cannot recommend her enough! She is AMAZING :) read more

Working with Maria has absolutely changed my life. I have been working with Maria since summer 2024 and I have done individual and couples sessions, group sessions, attended 2 retreats, and one of her workshops. When I first came to her I was in a very dark place. I had been in survival mode for years and my nervous system was completely burnt out. I needed a change in my life but I was very scared and lost and didn't know where to begin. I was hopeless and didn't think I was capable of creating the full life I knew I wanted and deserved deep in my heart. Maria's approach is like none other that I have experienced before, she helped me build my self-worth and self-love so that I could become myself again. Building my self worth, self confidence, and self love has made me excited and hopeful about my life again because I've realized how strong and capable I am. Maria cares deeply about her clients and she prioritizes a safe environment for all of the types of sessions she offers. I know she has become a lifelong supporter and friend, I can't recommend Maria enough! read more

In short- Maria really saved my life and change the direction it was heading. I found Maria on Yelp, September of 2021. After a breakup with a girlfriend and me not wanting to repeat the same habits, I began to search for help. Not knowing where to go, I went on Yelp. I tried a couple therapist before finding Maria. Thankfully I found her! I spilled ALL the beans to her and surrendered to her guidance. I consistently saw her, every week, for about 4 months. Then bi-wkeely after that. I knew she was the therapist for me after the first couple sessions! This past year, I have done three retreats with Maria (Zen Mountain Retreats). Healing the child within, Journey to self love, Reawakening the chakras. The retreats have been the most healing. Amazing for inward reflection and trauma healing. Maria has the best way to hold space for all types of people, past, and breakthroughs. I honestly don't know how she does it! She puts together an amazing schedule of events/task for the retreats. REMEMBER- if you want to see results, you have to put in the work too. Fast forward a year later. She has given me the tools and support to take my life back! And start creating the future I've always been aligned too. I have processed and overcame so much trauma with Maria. And I am smashing my self limiting beliefs everyday! The things I suffered from were (and sometimes still come up)- social anxiety, low self worth, external validation, fear of rejection/abandonment, body image issues, misguided purpose, blurry self image, bad support system, no connection with inner child, low confidence, having low connection with my emotions (military), no vulnerability, weak boundaries, fear of judgement read more

In 2016, I had experienced burn out and my soul was broken. With finally admitting I could benefit from a therapist I started through the insurance path, but every résumé seemed like the same real estate agent résumé. My continued search ended in 2017 on yelp when I saw Maria's Inner Peace. I knew it was a fit right away, that this was something different, something that would help me find my inner child once again! Maria is a real person that is on her own journey as well, not someone on a pedestal you are trying to become. Maria is so incredibly good at what she does, and it must come from the passion that she has for her work. I have recently attended a sound healing meditation evening with Maria which was amazing. Besides one on one sessions, I have attended a 16 week group course, and a retreat on the chakras. I have met some incredible people through Inner Peace of which I consider family. It's hard to describe how grateful I am that the true beginning of my ongoing journey started with Maria and her Inner Peace. read more

I found Maria through Yelp and since then I have done multiple groups and one retreat with her. To me, what sets Maria apart from anyone else is the care that she takes with all her patients. She listens and truly understands you and gives very direct and genuine guidance. There is something so magical about the groups and the retreats that she organizes. I have gotten tremendous clearance and healing through both of these and I can't recommend them enough! The energy and the knowledge that she brings along with her passion to help others really makes all the difference. She makes you feel safe to open up and share and knows exactly how and when to push you to give you a better understanding of yourself. read more

Not very positive on the phone. Seemed to get irritated when I asked her to explain what somatic massage was and didn't really want to provide clarification. I also think for the amount of money she charges for the initial consultation she should be a little more professional with her clients. read more

I have been going to Maria for about a year now. And let me just put it simply she has changed my LIFE! I struggled deeply with anxiety, scared to leave my house, I was a wreck. I searched frantically for help, I tried medication but it only made my panic attacks worse. It wasn't until I sat down with Maria and was able to take the holistic approach, by truly working through all of the things that cause my anxiety, was I able to get relief. I can happily say my anxiety has subsided, and while it's Something I'll always live with I now have the tools to manage it. I haven't had a panic attack in months, and I was getting them weekly before her. I highly recommend. Maria provides support, wisdom, kindness, and she really cares about her clients. She is a wonderful therapist!! read more

I found Maria and Inner Peace right here on Yelp when I was experiencing a lot of depression and anxiety. I had been to therapy before and was taking anxiety meds, but I felt inclined to try something different. I can honestly say that decision changed my life. From my first session with Maria, I could tell she understood me and she wasted no time setting up a plan to identify and address so many of my self-limiting beliefs. It was unlike any other therapy experience I've had because it felt more purposeful and intentional. I've also done her 16 week groups and a retreat and everything has been the most special and amazing experience. I've connected with people who are now close friends and have received more love, support, and encouragement than I could have ever imagined. If you're ready to put in the work for healing and growth, this is likely for you! read more

I've been seeing Maria for about 6 months now and I am so incredibly grateful that I found her. She's different than any other therapist you'll come across. She digs deep and helps you unravel where you're issues are stemming from and helps you understand and grow from them. I came to her at a time of extreme emotional instability and through our work and her ability to help empower and inspire me, I'm feeling the most grounded, stable, and happy than I ever have in my life. I owe Maria so much!! She is a truly special human being with a gift at understanding the human psyche. I am forever grateful that I reached out to her and started to do the tough work of healing. I highly recommend her for anyone who wants a deeper and holistic approach to therapy and is ready to work through difficult emotions and past trauma. read more

Maria is great. I feel like I'm making progress and learning new things about myself every week. I've been other places before and this one has been the best so far! read more

I have spent several years looking for a therapist that I truly felt comfortable opening up to. Not only has Maria been approachable, she has shown me true compassion/empathy that I think many therapists lack in their profession. I've been working with Maria for over a year now and I feel like a different person than I did 14 months ago. Please note: Maria did not fix me. But she did help me dig deep to the root of my issues. These issues seemed surface level to me a year ago- but after individual sessions and group work, I felt myself understanding where all my anxieties and self limiting beliefs came from. Note Again: Time and patience is important here. In the beginning, I was hoping to see Maria a few times, feel better and move on. And the truth is, I did feel better, but I knew I had years of self destruction, anger and abuse that needed attention- and I knew I couldn't address all of that in 2-3 sessions. The fact of the matter is, I needed to change my mindset, confront my demons and be at peace in my life. That takes time, care and lots of effort. And Maria is just the person to help me or anyone who has similar goals.This work I've done with Maria has helped me truly know myself, my worth and have deeper connections in my life. She saved me. read more

Maria is a gifted, therapeutic counselor who cares about her patients. Highly recommended.

I've done several invidual sessions, a few groups, and a few retreats with Maria since 2019.  Maria's authenticity, realness, and down to earth approach really helped me to realize that it was also important and safe for me to express my true and imperfect self as well. Maria is very honest and extremely loving at the same time. She is a master at her craft and truly understands the healing power of group work.  Maria has a beautiful heart, and she attracts so many beautiful souls into her healing tribe.  I 100% recommend Maria to anyone who is ready for this challenging but so rewarding inner work journey. read more

Hello my name is Marie and I've been going to Maria's counseling service for the last 6 years. I have to say that she has been extremely helpful in our marriage she has given us tools to live a better quality of life knowing each other's needs learning to listen to each other and remember to spend time and making time to go on dates. My husband at first thought she was hard but it's because we didn't want to hear our truth on what we are lacking. After almost being at the verge of Divorce twice we have celebrated our 6 year anniversary being better than ever. Thank you María for your knowledge and your service you have been a blessing in our lives for ever great full . read more

Maria is very caring and helpful. She is direct, which has helped me become much more self aware. l'm very comfortable opening up to her about how I'm feeling and have developed a lot of mutual trust with her during this really hard time in my life. So grateful to have found her for counseling and helping me see my authentic, beautiful self! read more

She's saved my life, point blank. I've seen a lot of counselors and therapist over the years and NOBODY has come close to how she works. She is extremely Intellectual and powerful. Once I started doing the groups, tried try to go to every retreat. There's nothing comparable to what she has set up. In my opinion, the retreats are 6+ months of therapy in a Few days. Thank you Maria for helping me out of the hole I was in, I know I have a ways to go. But thank you for ALL the work you've done for me, Once ii started doing the groups and the retreats, it really took my healing to the next level. She really cares about her clients like no other'. Thank You Maria, Love you! If you are ready to heal, dig deep, and be Vulnerable, I'd 100,000% recommended Inner peach and Zen mountain. read more

I súper recommend Maria !! She's the only professional person that has help me a lot !! Love her kind spirit and heart , very understanding and compassionate!! A lot of experience she has , I have healed so much , I'm very thankful for Maria ! read more

Because of Maria, I was reminded what life is and started living it using the tools she gave me. She always treats me like an equal and gets me. Before starting work with her I had anxiety & depression. I was sad about the past and worried about the future. Now I can live in the present. I knew I didn't fit in the superficial crowds and Maria taught me how to attract my tribe. I started doing individual work with her and after my first session, I felt more progress than months of work at other places. I joined group sessions and that amplified everything and I couldn't believe the growth. I was connecting with people who were real! Then I went to a weekend retreat and that was the icing on the cake. Truly life changing for the better. I started doing this work to make my life better but it has also had a huge impact on everyone I know. My family, my coworkers, my friends, & my relationships. read more

I never really trusted the idea of going to a therapist until I found myself stuck in a deep rut and started looking for help, with little hope I would find anyone that could really help me spring clean all my unfelt emotions. It was on Yelp that I found Maria's practice and the reviews encouraged me to try her approach, as it struck me as genuine, down to earth and very very real. Reality utterly outperformed expectations. Not only I felt immediately at ease with Maria due to her warm and accepting nature, but I have been able to go through immense progress in all aspects of my life thanks to her direct and no-nonsense approach. She harmoniously combines her deep knowledge of the counseling practice together with her natural intuitive and empathic qualities, making her an incredible support in rough times. Most of all though is that she empowers YOU to become your first and foremost ally. She doesn't try to become indispensable and has actively worked with me to enable me to nurture self love by providing me with the tools to overcome setbacks. The group work was also transformative for me. Initially skeptical about sharing my experiences with strangers, I quickly became a regular of the weekly groups, expanding my awareness of people's emotions and ability to connect at a deeper level with people. It has transformed my life, and I have made strong bonds with some beautiful people there. Last but not least, the retreats Maria organizes are a bootcamp to speed up emotional and spiritual growth. I have learned so much from them, immersed in the beauty of Idyllwild, and always came back invigorated, ready to tackle life challenges. Maria is now more than a therapist. She is a friend, a person to count on, a coach and an inspiration. She touched my life and provided me with the tools to make it a better place to be in :) read more

When I first set my sights on a therapist in San Diego a few years ago I tried out about 3 and didn't like any of them. I quickly became discouraged after spending so much money and having nothing to show. I decided to sweep what I was dealing with under the rug . Fast Forward a few years and here I am , going through a break up. Unsure of what I was feeling, totally blocked from my emotions. Maria happened upon me and has honestly changed my life. Her approach is completely authentic. She gets straight to the point, and she is extremely intuitive. You may try to hide, but she will call you out. What I love most about her and her approach is she doesn't want to waste your time and her time if you aren't interested in improving your life. If you are willing to put the work in she is the best therapist around. Her home office is wonderful, comfortable and inviting. I am currently on my third group in group therapy ( this is my favorite) and I have been on two of her wonderful retreats to Idyllwild. I have learned so much about myself, about others, about emotions, goals, achievements. She is much more than a therapist to just unload your problems on . She has become a friend, confidant, life coach and someone that truly understands me. If you are struggling with anything, stuck in a rut, or just want to talk to someone don't hesitate, she is amazing. read more

Maria has been tremendously helpful. My girlfriend brought me to her because we were having difficulties and I have to admit that I was skeptical before having never been to a therapist. In a very short time Maria made us both feel comfortable and at home. She introduced us to new techniques of listening and communication that have made a WORLD of difference in our relationship and brought peace to our home. I now go individually to see Maria to work on baggage that I am carrying from my past. Maria is very professional and very caring. She is great with giving you the tools to fix what you came to see her about. As a personal trainer I realize that there are 168 hours in the week and of that I see her for 1. With the 1hr that I get with Maria, she definitely provides me with the tools to fix and grow over the remaining 167 hrs. Go see her. You will find that she can only help you make yourself better. read more

I started a project on yelp and out of all the therapy /life coaches I'm glad I chose innerpeace.

I will admit I was a bit skeptical about the group therapy Maria was recommending for me (though I was definitely getting a lot of her one-on-one sessions), however, I feel like the group sessions really opened me up and made me more comfortable and honest with myself than I've ever been before. I have made tremendous progress is a few areas and feel much more optimistic about things; though I acknowledge this process will take more time and work. I really bonded with the group of people from our group sessions and have a better understanding of what healthy relationships/friendships are. Maria has great energy and patience, she really hears you and helps you gain greater insight. I have found the hypno-therapy session to be very relaxing as well. read more

My wife and I have been seeing Maria for several years. Her office is very professional and comfortable. Her therapy has been wonderful and we both live a better life because of her Maria is the best! read more

** Update - I ended up seeing Maria a few times and ultimately joined one of her 16 week groups. I can't even tell you how much transformation happened to me during those months. The relationships and the tools that I developed in that group changed me and my life forever. It was the best thing I ever did for myself and I can't thank Maria enough for helping me take my life back. Shes full of tough love and amazing amounts of encouragement and support. I never knew how badly I needed someone like her, and what perfect timing at that. Thank you, Maria!!!!!!!!! I figured since I found Maria on Yelp I should review her on Yelp in case it helps others find her :) Her and I hit it off right away because who doesn't love animals and want to change the world? I usually struggle with talking to people I dont know, but having a solid common ground like that made me feel right at home. This was my first time ever seeking professional advice/support as I'm trying to navigate uncharted waters in my relationship and feel more fulfilled with my personal life. I left feeling really empowered, understood and hopeful, even though we had just scratched the surface. I really can't wait to spend more time with her, and hopefully attened a retreat! read more

Maria is truly a therapist like no other, she is down to earth and direct. She won't tell you what you want to hear and will always tell you what you need to hear which is vital to healing and growing. I highly recommend both her one-on-one and group therapy. Her group therapy sessions have helped me accelerate my process because it puts the skills I am learning into real life situations. One of the most difficult things for me is learning to trust other people, and group therapy has helped IMMENSELY in that department. If you want a therapist who truly cares about you as a person and is willing to work as hard as you are, then Maria is the therapist for you. read more

In just a short period of time, due to me moving, Maria changed my life. She creates a comfortable, safe, and encouraging environment. She is extremely helpful and offers great tips to help you get through. It took me forever to open up but she made it easy. I will recommend her to anyone and it will be the best choice you've made for yourself. read more

I found Maria on yelp over year ago and this review is long overdue. I was feeling lost and uncertain and coming out of a really bad relationship. From the very first phone call I knew that I had found someone that would be able to truly help me move onward and upward in my life. In the time that we worked together, Maria helped me to see myself in a way that I never have before. I attended individual and group therapy sessions both of which were remarkably successful in my healing. I recently moved out of the area but Maria offered to continue to work with me over the phone and for that I am truly grateful. She really helped me get my life back on track. If you are looking for a therapist who always speaks the truth Maria is the one you should work with. read more

It's been a couple years, but I always have this nagging feeling that I'd be remiss/negligent if I didn't post this review. Yelp says 2 star review means, "Meh. I've experienced better" and that 3 stars means, "A-OK". With that in mind, there should be a 2.5 stars, as I haven't experienced a better therapist, but this experience was definitely less than A-OK. I came to Maria on referral from a friend of mine who had found great success and satisfaction with her. I was looking for therapy/counseling to help deal with a personal issue. Maria was very nice, friendly, compassionate, sweet and even gave me a break in her pricing since I don't earn much money. She even shooed her cats out of the session room when I was there, because I'm allergic to cats. Those are the good parts Each time I visited her, she'd ask me how I feel, I'd explain what was bothering me and that I'm looking for help to not be bothered by it. It was the same exact question and answer every time. Following those introductory few minues, we'd then chat as if a couple of friends talking about general life and some specifics regarding me and my issue. This seemed the exact same as the many times around then that I was talking to or venting to a friend. Finally, after several weeks (couple or few months) of visits, she told me didn't know of any way to help me not be bothered by my issue, that just time would heal. I wish I would have known she felt that way before I paid her for those weeks of therapy, as I could've saved that money and time I spent going over there (I never left there feeling any better than when I got there). Furthermore, even though she told me up front that she didn't take insurance, I did the research and jumped through the hoops with my insurance company to get them to cover my visits with her. All I needed to do was get Maria to provide her Tax ID # or SS # to my insurance company. Over the course of of several email and phone requests, spanning several months, I asked Maria to provide the # to my insurance. I spoon-fed her simple ways to do it, by phone or form I made for her to just enter in the #. I offered to send or call it in for her. I tried offering her every which way to make it easy for her, and she just refused to do it, saying that she told me from the beginning that she doesn't take insurance. I repeatedly told her that it's okay she doesn't take insurance, that I figured it out on my end how to get insurance reimbursement, and that all she needed to do was tell the insurance company her tax # (or tell me, for me to pass it on). The takeaway from this is that you should know that, for some unknown reason, she may be completely unwilling to allow you to get insurance reimbursement for what you pay her, as she did with me. Also, she may not have any tools to help you with your issue, but not let you know that until you've already paid her for a bunch of sessions of general conversation. I see plenty of 5-star reviews here, so maybe she treats everyone else well (or they can just afford to pay for her w/out insurance reimbursement) and I'm the one person who she refused to help. My experience overall was not beneficial, and I'd feel negligent if I didn't pass that experience on to her potential clients. If you do go with her, I hope she is amazing for you and just what you need! read more

It brings me great joy to be writing this review, as I am so pleased to have found a great therapist. I found Maria on Yelp and trusted the great experiences many had with her. Maria is a gifted, unique, and compassionate therapist. From the first session with her, nothing got past her. She is blunt, straight forward, and motivating. She called me out on my shit and the people in my life right away, which is what I needed. I felt like she understood my life story within the first hour. She remembers so much as if you're her only client. She truly wants you to live a better quality life and promotes self empowerment & self love. I've shared a lot of what she's taught me with those around me. I am so lucky & grateful to have been connected with her. I have grown immensely since I've met her. Thank you so much Maria I can't claim everyone will have the same experience as I, but if you can honest about your issues, it is worth it to make an appointment ASAP! read more

Maria was so helpful. I have tried so many different types of treatment, prescription drugs, and therapies. I was skeptical of what I thought might be a fluffy new age type hooey therapy but was desperate. My desperation ended up being my salvation because Maria's holistic, mind-body-spirit approach was just what I needed to make changes in my life. I am so grateful to have found this. I recommend Maria wholeheartedly to anyone who is stuck in their lives & wants to make a change they haven't been able to make. So glad I found my inner peace!!! read more

I've been seeing Maria for 6 months now and I've made tremendous progress with combating the "quarter life crisis" I've been plagued with. She has an abundance of comprehensive experience that helps her design personalized exercises. In my situation, it's mainly been about greater self-awareness. She never fails as a source of positivity and connection. Her value is perpetual. read more

You know that ghostbusters theme song? "Who you gonna call?? ...." Well when sh*t hits the fan, Maria is who I want to talk to. So to avoid sh*t hitting the fan, i like to talk to her on a fairly regular basis. She is understanding, she is real, she cares and she has incredible insight. There have been plenty of "ah-ha!" moments with her. I'm a fan of her as a person and respect her as my therapist. read more

Maria is amazing. A few months ago I called 7 therapists determined to get some help and start a healing process that was long overdue. I'm so glad she was the first person to call me back. I had been to therapists before (3 to be exact) and most of my experiences were down right terrible. Inner Peace is the exact opposite. I've only been to a few sessions but I'm feeling really blessed, happy, and more vulnerable than I've been in many years. I know it has a huge part to do with our talks. I look forward to our sessions and and love the company of her animals. Thanks Maria for being so great at what you do. read more