Hello and welcome! I'm Monica, and I'm here to help. I can imagine that you may be going through a difficult time now. Despite what you may be currently facing, you are extremely courageous to reach out and ask for help. It’s not an easy step to take. God has given me so much and I want to give back. Having had my own experiences with healing and adversity, I come with book knowledge and real-life personal experiences on healing and perseverance. I love what I do and find strength through Christ and the Holy Spirit to guide me when counseling others. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a CCFP (Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional), and hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. My focus is helping clients learn positive coping skills to manage anxiety, loss, sadness, life transitions, improve their self confidence, and learn to set healthy boundaries for themselves. I work primarily with female adults on their emotional wellness. I feel that my biggest strength as a therapist is being genuinely interested, sensitive, and caring with my clients. The connection between a therapist and client is the most important component in making therapy effective. I provide a non-judgmental environment that will allow you to feel heard, understood, respected, and feel safe sharing your present life challenges as well as your successes. My therapeutic strengths are rooted in the 31 years of experience extensively working with various types of people from all walks of life, in a variety of clinical settings, empowering them to prioritize their values and their happiness. Using a strengths-based perspective, I use a wide range of therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy, and Positive Psychology to assist clients with making positive steps in improving their mental health and level of functioning. I enjoy providing effective evidence-based treatment for clients and creating a “culturally sensitive” therapeutic relationship so they may achieve their treatment goals. I work from a variety of approaches and match the style that will best fit your needs. However, I view YOU as being the expert in your own journey and experience. I feel truly blessed to be a part of the Saga team because I whole-heartedly believe in it's mission of providing hope and support to our churches and communities. I am committed to sharing genuine care to help you meet your personal goals. I look forward to being a part of your therapeutic journey…hearing your story…and helping you be your best self! Warm regards, Monica