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Monique Peterson

LCSW, 16 years of experience
Authentic
Intelligent
Warm
VirtualAvailable

Life can be heavy and hard to cope sometimes. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and painful life experiences can make it hard to feel safe, connected, or understood. Reaching out for support can be one of the hardest steps, but it can also be the beginning of meaningful change. If you are carrying more than you feel able to manage right now, you don't have to face it by yourself. Many people come to therapy feeling exhausted from trying to hold everything together. I provide a safe and welcoming space where you can show up exactly as you are. Your story, your culture, your identity, your struggles, and your strengths are all welcome here. My goal is for you to feel heard, respected, and supported as we work through the challenges you are facing. Together we will move at your pace, focusing on helping you feel safer, and more confident in yourself.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Your first session is a relaxed conversation where we begin to build trust, connect, and talk about what brings you to therapy. You can share at your own pace and sharing only what feels comfortable. We will discuss your goals, what support might look like for you, and how we can work together to help you feel more supported. There is no pressure to have the right words or clear plan as we will figure things out together. My focus is creating a safe space where you feel safe respected, and supported.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

One of my strengths is that clients will say that I am easy to talk to. I create a safe space where people feel safe enough to be honest about what they are really going through. Many clients come in feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally exhausted, and my goal is to help them feel understood rather than judged. I am also a compassionate listener. I take time to understand each person's story, background, and experiences. I believe people heal best when they feel respected, supported, and able to show up as their true selves. I also value cultural awareness and approach each client with openness and curiosity about their identity, experiences, and perspective. Clients often tell me they appreciate that our sessions feel genuine, supportive, and they feel comfortable sharing.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

My ideal client is women and adults who want a space where they can bring their full self—identity, culture, experiences, and emotions—without feeling judged or misunderstood. They may be navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, or challenging life transitions and are looking for a therapist who will listen with openness, respect, and genuine care. They do not have to have it all figured out, just a willingness to show up and start where you are.

SpecialtiesTop specialties

Anxiety

Depression

Women's Issues

Other specialties

Career Counseling

Coping Skills

Grief

I identify as

Black / African American

Person of Color (POC)

Woman

Serves ages

Adults (18 to 64)

Licensed in

Alabama

Accepts

Anthem

Location
Virtual
My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use CBT to help clients identity and understand the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Many clients experience distress due to negative thoughts or deeply rooted belief systems that developed through life experiences.

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

Many of my clients may experience challenges managing the intense emotional response from life stressors causing emotions to feel like a "roller coaster", or "flooding". Life stress and past trauma triggers can trigger this distress and have difficulty managing distress. I assist clients in gaining skills and practicing skills in Mindfulness, Distress tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal effectiveness. This practice of skills helps clients develop emotional stability while also learning practical strategies for navigating relationships and stressful situations.

Trauma Informed Care

I utilized a trauma informed lens for clients experiencing individual, intergenerational, or systemic racial trauma which impacts mental health, relationships, and self perception. I apply trauma-informed principles prioritizing safety, trust, client empowerment and collaboration, transparency in the therapeutic process, sensitivity to trauma triggers and responses to ensure that therapy supports healing and resilience.

Racial trauma treatment

An essential part of my work involves recognizing how race, culture, identity, and systemic inequities shape a client's experiences and mental health. I incorporate discussions of racial identity and cultural identify when relevant to the client's lived experience. I approach each client with openness, curiosity, and respect for their cultural knowledge and lived experience rather than assuming expertise in the client's cultural identity

, 2 ratings
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.