Maria Carina Abenes, EdD

Dr. Abenes is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an advocate for the AAPI community as a Filipino women leader. She has experience providing individual, group therapy, and psychological testing. No matter what our personal struggle, we all want to feel that there is a place we can turn to for connection, help, and understanding. She is a true believer in the saying by Fred Rogers: “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” She uses Cognitive-Behavioral as her framework for therapy but believes that the patient is the expert when it comes to themself. She seeks to tailor a custom treatment to the patient’s needs, rather than attempting to fit patients into a pre-existing, one-size-fits-all approach.

Dr. Abenes attended Loyola Marymount University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. She was awarded a Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University. Her professional experience includes serving as the Executive Director of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Director of the Transitional Age Youth Programs for Hillsides, and Case Manager at one of the nation’s largest drug and alcohol treatment facilities for adolescents. She has worked in the social service field for almost 20 years, focusing on at-risk youth and issues associated such as substance abuse, gang involvement, self-harm, eating disorders, and domestic violence. Her passion is helping this marginalized population with their recovery, family reunification, emotional issues, and coping skills.

In her off time, she finds happiness in spending time with friends, family, and people with whom she has cultivated meaningful relationships. She also enjoys an iced coffee, chocolate, music, and a good hike.