- Attachment-based focus
- CBT techniques
- Solution-focused steps
About Monica
Monica Burtley-Miller is an Illinois licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 10 years of professional experience. She works with adults who are dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, depression, and life changes. Monica also addresses caregiver stress, communication problems, control issues, forgiveness, guilt and shame, isolation, and questions about life purpose.
Monica uses straightforward conversation to help people name what feels heavy and what keeps repeating. She listens without judgment and helps people notice patterns in thoughts and behavior. Sessions focus on concrete steps people can try between meetings as well as talking through painful memories or current problems.
Her approach draws on attachment-based ideas about relationships, client-centered methods that prioritize the person's experience, and cognitive behavioral tools for spotting and changing unhelpful thoughts. She also uses motivational interviewing to clarify goals and solution-focused techniques to identify immediate next steps.
Monica aims to create a calm, open setting where someone can talk about guilt or shame tied to family, faith, parenting, or past events. She frames work as practical and direct, not abstract. People often leave sessions with specific things to try and clearer ways to understand what is getting in the way.
Her practice is grounded in everyday language and small, usable strategies. Prospective clients in Illinois can expect to be asked about current struggles and immediate goals in the first sessions, and to work together on approaches that fit their daily life.
How Monica blends approaches for virtual care
Monica draws on attachment-based ideas and cognitive behavioral techniques in her work. Attachment-based work looks at how relationship patterns from the past affect current feelings and reactions, which can help when guilt or shame comes from family or past bonds. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small changes in behavior, useful for anxiety, mood problems, and self-critical thinking. She also uses client-centered listening to prioritize what the person says and believes, and motivational interviewing to clarify goals and next steps.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Monica will talk with each person about what feels most relevant and will try methods that match their goals and day-to-day life. She checks in about progress and adjusts techniques based on what helps most in practice.
Confirm the session formats before booking because the biography does not list specific online options. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a weeknight or a lunch break, allow shorter check-in meetings when needed, and reduce travel time. These practical benefits can make it simpler to keep working on guilt, shame, stress, and anxiety while juggling everyday responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include guilt and shame, caregiver stress, communication, and isolation.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She uses conversational work to name and examine painful thoughts and feelings. That includes noticing patterns and trying small, practical changes between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
Monica has 10 years of professional experience as an LCSW. That experience includes work with trauma, mood concerns, and parenting-related stress.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an Illinois LCSW credential and practices in Illinois.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or for international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the original biography does not list specific formats.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.