María Eugenia Maldonado Ruiz, Lcda

My practice provides outpatient psychotherapy, with approximately 80% of my clinical work focused on individuals within the anxiety disorders spectrum and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I have specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and routinely use this approach as a core intervention for OCD and related conditions. I have treated a substantial number of individuals presenting with OCD and comorbid anxiety disorders across varying levels of severity, adapting evidence-based protocols to individual needs and clinical presentations.

I work primarily with individuals on the anxiety disorders spectrum, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. My treatment structure begins with a comprehensive assessment phase, where I evaluate life history, symptom presentation, comorbidities, skills, protective factors, and maintaining mechanisms. This is followed by an intervention phase using evidence-based approaches aimed at behavior change, integrating cognitive strategies and behavioral interventions such as different forms of exposure. When appropriate, family members or support networks are involved to enhance treatment effectiveness and generalization of gains.

My training in treating OCD and OCD spectrum disorders includes formal education in cognitive-behavioral therapy and specialized clinical training focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder. I have completed postgraduate diplomas in CBT and OCD treatment, advanced specialization in OCD, and specific training in exposure techniques for anxiety disorders with ADIPA, ALTOC and EITOC. I also completed intensive training in OCD treatment, including the Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) through the International OCD Foundation. Currently, I am pursuing advanced training in functional behavior analysis to further strengthen my case formulation and intervention skills.

I have experience working with multicultural populations, including individuals from Latin America, North America, and Europe. My current clinical practice is conducted online, which has allowed me to provide psychotherapy services to clients across different countries, age groups, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This modality has strengthened my ability to deliver culturally responsive, flexible, and accessible evidence-based treatment while adapting interventions to diverse cultural contexts and individual needs.