- ACT
- CBT
- Attachment work
About Monique
Monique Gardner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia with five years of experience. Monique focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and ADHD. They work with adults who feel weighed down by guilt or shame and who want practical ways to respond to those feelings.
Monique uses straightforward, person-centered methods. Sessions often involve motivational interviewing to clarify what matters to the client and to map small steps forward. Cognitive-behavioral tools and acceptance-based ideas are used to notice painful thoughts and test whether they guide useful action.
Attachment-based ideas inform work around relationships and longstanding patterns that feed shame. Dialectical behavior therapy skills are introduced when clients need tools for intense emotions, distress tolerance, or stronger emotion regulation. Monique also incorporates solution-focused techniques to build immediate, doable changes.
Past work includes support for people with dual diagnosis, grief, mood and behavioral disorders, eating disorders, OCD, psychosis, and trauma. They have experience with issues that overlap with identity and relationships, including LGBTQIA+ concerns, adoption and foster care, and attachment wounds that often underlie shame.
Monique describes therapy as collaborative and practical. Sessions aim to name what keeps guilt and shame active, try small changes, and build skills that fit into daily life. People who want direct, concrete strategies to reduce the daily burden of shame often find this style helpful.
How Monique uses different therapies in online sessions
Monique often blends cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in session. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing them with practical behavioral experiments. ACT emphasizes noticing painful thoughts and committing to actions that reflect personal values rather than getting stuck in shame or guilt.Attachment-based ideas are used when relationship patterns feed shame. These approaches look at how past close relationships shape expectations and comfort with closeness, and they support practicing new ways of relating during everyday interactions. Together these methods aim to address both immediate symptoms and the relational roots of guilt or shame.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try different strategies, and adjust based on what helps. That shared exploration helps identify whether CBT techniques, acceptance work, or attachment-focused steps are most useful for the person's situation.
Confirm the current session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific options. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Monique will work with clients to choose sessions that fit into everyday life and support steady progress.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does Monique address?
They work with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and ADHD. Additional focus areas include attachment issues, grief, body image, and related concerns.
How would they approach shame or guilt?
Monique combines acceptance and commitment ideas with cognitive-behavioral techniques to help clients notice painful thoughts and try actions aligned with values. They also use solution-focused steps for immediate coping.
What is their background and experience?
They have five years of clinical experience and have worked with people facing dual diagnosis, grief, mood disorders, eating disorders, OCD, psychosis, and trauma.
What are their credentials and where are they based?
Monique is an LCSW licensed in Virginia and practices in that state.
Do they offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can people from other countries work with them?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on factors related to the subscription and location.
What should I do to begin working with them?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.