About Monica
Monica Alvarez works best with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, and major life changes. She speaks both English and Spanish and offers a steady, practical presence while clients sort through difficult feelings. Monica begins by listening closely to what matters most to each person.
She then helps set clear, manageable goals and supports small steps toward change. Monica uses straightforward, evidence-informed methods that focus on what will make life easier day to day.
How Monica works
She draws on client-centered work to follow each person’s lead and build on their strengths. Cognitive behavioral techniques are used to spot unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors that reduce anxiety or improve mood. She also integrates mindfulness practices to help people calm racing thoughts and get more grounded.
Solution-focused methods help clarify priorities and create short-term plans that produce tangible results. Sessions are practical and collaborative rather than lecture-based. Monica has 12 years of experience as a licensed clinician, holding LCPC and LPCC credentials.
Her practice addresses a wide range of concerns including parenting stress, sleep problems, relationship challenges, identity and LGBT issues, career questions, and compassion fatigue. She also helps people dealing with abandonment, attachment wounds, and family-of-origin difficulties. Therapy is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.
Monica guides each person in choosing approaches and session formats that fit their life and goals.
Monica lists 4 ways of working on the entry:
What Monica works with
The areas below are the ones Monica selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Body image
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Immigration issues
- Infidelity
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Narcissism
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Registers | LCPC, LPCC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 12 |
| Languages | English, Spanish |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Illinois |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Practical Approaches for Online Therapy
Monica often blends client-centered therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy to create a straightforward online approach. Client-centered therapy involves listening closely and building on each person’s strengths; it helps when someone needs acceptance and space to tell their story. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors; it is useful for anxiety, depression, and sleep troubles.She also uses mindfulness techniques to help slow down racing thoughts and build calm in everyday moments. Together these approaches let clients practice new skills between visits and measure what helps. Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work; Monica collaborates with each person to decide which approaches and pace fit their goals and preferences.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video fits deeper therapeutic work when seeing facial cues matters. Phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a shorter check-in. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief updates, ongoing support, or when writing helps clarify thoughts. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to continue work between meetings.
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Common questions
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What approach does she use in sessions?
How much experience does she have?
What are her credentials and where is she based?
In which languages are sessions offered?
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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