Therapist profile
Macarena Santelices, LCPC, LPCC
LCPC and LPCC - relationships and parenting
Continue with MacarenaAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- Parenting support
- CBT and DBT methods
About Macarena
Macarena Santelices is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with 14 years of experience. She is licensed in California and Maryland and focuses on everyday problems people bring from home. Her listed concerns include stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, self-esteem, depression, parenting, and coping with life changes.
Macarena treats practical problems in short, clear steps. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and mindfulness skills to help people notice thoughts, try new behaviors, and manage strong emotions. Sessions often involve learning tools for everyday moments rather than lengthy theory talks.
She also addresses specific struggles such as attachment and abandonment worries, body image, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, communication problems, guilt and shame, impulsivity, isolation, and questions about life purpose and money. These topics are folded into concrete strategies people can practice between meetings.
Her style is collaborative and direct. She asks what matters to the person and helps set small, doable goals. Progress is tracked with practical exercises and check-ins that fit into busy schedules.
Macarena does not provide trauma-focused therapy according to her own note, so people seeking trauma work should look for a clinician who lists that approach. To begin, clients follow the site process and schedule an initial session after completing a brief questionnaire.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Macarena commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her work. CBT helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and test new ways of thinking and behaving to reduce anxiety or low mood. DBT teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication skills for strong feelings or impulsive reactions.Mindfulness practices are also used to help people notice the present moment and reduce rush or reactivity. These practices are brief and geared toward everyday life, such as grounding exercises and short breathing techniques.
Choosing the right approach is part of the early work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then try methods collaboratively. That flexibility means techniques may shift as progress is tracked and needs change.
The therapist's biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm available online session options before booking so you know how meetings are scheduled. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a workday, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed, which can help maintain momentum between visits.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
California, Maryland
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, parenting, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, caregiver stress, body image, and mood concerns.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her approach is practical and collaborative, using CBT, DBT, and mindfulness techniques to teach skills and set small goals. Sessions focus on tools people can use between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 14 years of professional experience working in behavioral health settings. That timeframe reflects the duration noted in her biography.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds the LCPC and LPCC credentials and is licensed in California and Maryland. Her profile lists California as her primary location.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats does she provide?
The original biography did not specify session formats. Prospective clients should confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided through the site during sign-up.
What are the first steps to start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. The site process guides new clients through these steps.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.