My name is Malia, and I’m the Founder and Owner of Calming Waters Counseling LLC, established in 2016. I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 10 years of clinical experience, currently licensed in Colorado and Texas. I provide fully virtual therapy, which allows me to support clients across both states with greater flexibility and accessibility.

My approach at the heart of my work is the belief that emotions are not problems to avoid but information to be understood. Using an emotionally focused approach, I help you slow down, notice your inner experience, and make sense of the patterns that keep you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected.

I draw from a range of therapeutic models—including elements of emotionally focused individual therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS), CBT, person-centered, narrative, and psychodynamic therapies—but the focus is always the same: helping you build a deeper, more compassionate relationship with yourself. Therapy with me is collaborative and attuned to your pace and needs.

My practiced is focused on helping women (18+) dealing with concerns such as:

• Anxiety and depression

• Addiction and substance-related struggles

• Grief and loss

• Divorce and life transitions

• Infertility and post-partum depression

• Relationship challenges and intimacy concerns

• Trauma processing and its long-term effects

• Women’s issues and questions of identity roles

• Spirituality and meaning-making

Although trained as a marriage and family therapist, my practice is centered on one-on-one work. Together we’ll explore how your past experiences and relationships have shaped the story you carry about yourself. From that understanding, we’ll begin the process of healing—not to “fix” you, but to help you reconnect with your authentic self and create ways of thinking, feeling, and relating that feel more aligned and true.

What to expect

• A safe, nonjudgmental space to explore emotions and patterns.

• An emphasis on emotional attunement and increasing self-compassion.

• Practical skills where helpful, alongside deeper exploratory work.

• Flexible virtual sessions to fit your schedule and location within Colorado and Texas.

This work is about more than coping—it’s about transformation. As you begin to understand and process your emotions in a supportive environment, you can shift long-standing patterns, strengthen your sense of self, and show up more fully in your relationships and your life.

If you’re ready to begin, I’m here to support you.