Counselor Associate
Hi! My name is Monica (she/her). I identify as a queer, disabled, cis white woman, and these aspects of my identity deeply inform how I view the world and my work as a counselor. My lived experiences have given me particular insight into disability, neurodivergence, queerness, and the ways that ableism, racism, bias, and other systems of power can shape how people understand themselves and move through the world. I also recognize the ways my own identities position me within systems of privilege and power. I bring this awareness into my work through an anti-oppressive lens, while recognizing that every person’s experience is their own.
I approach counseling from a relational and systemic perspective. I believe we are deeply shaped by our relationships and that our relationships and family systems are shaped by culture, community, and larger systems of power. These influences can affect how we understand ourselves, how we relate to others, and what we come to believe is possible for us. Sometimes what feels like a purely individual struggle is a response to an environment, relationship, or system that is not serving us well. Understanding these connections can help us make sense of our experiences with greater compassion and create space for healing and resilience.
Sometimes we know something in our lives isn’t working, but we’re not quite sure why, or what we need to change. You may be feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself or others, struggling with anxiety or self-esteem, or finding that patterns in your relationships are no longer serving you. You may also be experiencing stress or anxiety that comes from navigating relationships, systems, or expectations that weren’t built with your needs or identity in mind. You may be exploring questions of identity, belonging, family, or what you want your life and relationships to look like. A primary focus of mine is working with individuals, couples, and families navigating questions of identity, disability, connection, and belonging. I’m particularly interested in how people who are LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or otherwise don’t fit neatly into the boxes they’ve been given build relationships, families, and communities that support who they are and what matters to them. I also work with people navigating ethical non-monogamy and diverse relationship structures.
My hope is that therapy can be a place where you feel genuinely understood, not because I assume I know your experience, but because we take the time to understand it together. In session, we’ll explore the stories you’ve developed about yourself and the experiences that have shaped them, including whether those stories still fit who you are today. My approach draws from Relational-Cultural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, systems thinking, and feminist, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive perspectives. I also draw on evidence-informed practices, adapting our work to what is useful for you. Together, we’ll make sense of what’s happening, clarify the changes you want to make, and build the skills and strategies that can help you move toward them.
Credentials
Education
- Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2026)
- Bachelors in Psychology with a certificate in Medical Humanities (2023)