Maija Slisco

About Maija

Maija Slisco, MSW is an ASW who graduated from California State University in 2022. As a seasoned clinician, Maija has 2 years of experience in the field and is licensed in California. If you would like to connect with a licensed therapist at Total Life, don't hesitate to call us at 1-800-567-5433 or sign up online .

What do you enjoy most about working with older adults? I enjoy working with older adults as they hold vast life experiences, incredible insights, and often tend to be more dedicated to therapy than many other age groups. Why do you think online therapy is effective for older adults?

Not only has the efficacy of teletherapy been empirically supported via research, but I have also found that many people find it easier to share personal and intimate parts of themselves virtually as opposed to in person. How do you approach therapy sessions? I approach therapy from a culturally humble and inclusive integrated care model grounded in a trauma informed framework.

This begins with building a therapeutic alliance through remaining curious and nonjudgmental. I do not view from a stance of good, bad, right, or wrong; rather I view in terms of constructive or destructive (e.g., behaviors, thoughts, situations) in relation to achieving the goals you seek. What is your advice to someone who is starting therapy for the first time?

As someone who has lived experience, beginning therapy for the first time can be scary. Taking the first step even when we do not want to do so is exactly how the magic of changes begins. After that first step, the process of introspection and intentional actions begins, and our reality changes.