*Just a quick note before you book: My evening sessions are completely booked, so I am only accepting daytime clients (before 4pm) Monday-Thursday. If you are looking for a daytime appointment, please read on to see if we sound like a good fit! Thanks! Hello! My name is Molly Monella. Do you feel like you've forgotten who you are, or maybe you've never really known? Perhaps you're struggling with dissatisfaction or overwhelm in your life roles. Maybe you've been carrying the burden of pain, shame, regret, or trauma since before you can remember. And despite all of this, maybe you're ready for change, you're looking for fulfillment, or you're seeking healing. I am well versed in the treatment of several mental health diagnoses and find that I have a particular passion and gift for the treatment of trauma, relationship concerns, sexual health and empowerment, body image concerns, the mind-body connection, self-esteem, and assertiveness. I use a blend of evidenced-based approaches to ensure that you have therapy that works for you and suits your personality. My goal is to approach therapy with a sense of curiosity, non-judgment, radical acceptance, and even humor. Together, we can help you return to yourself or even find the person you've been looking to be for a long time. I know that can be daunting, but you've been brave enough to look for a therapist and make a commitment to yourself. I would be honored to be a part of your journey. Now, let's get started!
In our first session, you'll be able to share what you're comfortable with, what you're hoping to get out of therapy, and ask any questions you may have. I'll answer any questions and offer any insight regarding what treatment modalities I think will be a great fit for you based on your personality and current goals. We'll go over your intake paperwork that you complete during session and elaborate on any more information you provide.
My peers, supervisors, and clients often describe me as being relatable, judgment-free, and compassionate. As a colleague of mine stated, "Molly welcomes each client with fierce empathy and warmth. I am in awe of her authenticity and attunement. I have always known Molly to lead with integrity in her personal and professional relationships, even when it is not convenient or the most popular opinion. She is eager to remind people, especially her clients, that they themselves are their number one priority."
I work with adults (18+). I love working with clients who are ready to address the deeper meaning of their earliest childhood experiences, people who want to take a deeper look at their identities, and those who are ready to do meaningful work. I am best suited for clients who are open to using the trauma-focused approaches that I use most in my practice: IFS and EMDR. Clients should check my treatment and specialties section to see if these treatments sound like something they are interested in before scheduling an intake. I can explain more, but am a trauma therapist at heart, so if you are not interested in looking into the past or are looking for behavioral or solution-focused interventions, I'm not your girl! It's important to note that with trauma work, consistent treatment is essential. I work best with clients who can commit to weekly sessions for the first few months of our journey together. We can eventually taper, but a solid, consistent foundation is really needed before less sessions are required. Our sessions can be so much fun too, a client with a sense of humor is always appreciated.
I am a Level 1 Trained IFS Therapist. Essentially, IFS teaches that we are all born curious, compassionate, creative, calm, connected, confident, courageous, and clear-headed. As we experience life and trauma, both the good and the bad, we activate "parts" to help us survive and meet our needs. I help clients address behavior, addictions, diagnoses, symptoms, physical concerns, and trauma by getting to know their parts and how their parts are trying to protect them. When we understand how parts are attempting to protect us from pain, discomfort, or rejection, we can work with them more compassionately and less judgmentally. That way, you can experience life with self-energy rather than parts taking over. A great analogy is an orchestra: All parts of the orchestra are needed to make beautiful music, but a conductor is needed so that the percussion don't rush the tempo or the woodwinds don't get too loud. All of your parts are welcome, but I want to help you lead them rather than your parts leading you. This is my essential mode of therapy that I use with most clients, so feel free to dig a little deeper and see if it might be a good fit for you! Here are some links listed below: https://youtu.be/6X45Y74blSg https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/article/ifs-and-chronic-pain/https://www.foundationifs.org
I am certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). This is an evidence-based approach that will help you reprocess past events that are continuing to impact your emotional well-being and self-beliefs (even if you're not quite sure what those events are right now). In EMDR, we use eye movements, sounds, and bilateral stimulation as we help you target specific memories. EMDR doesn't erase the fact that bad things have happened, but rather helps reduce negative self-beliefs, emotional overwhelm, and physical reactivity often caused by trauma. In other words, bad things may have happened in the past, but they don't have to continue causing us pain in the present. I like this analogy. Sometimes in life when we experience too many stressors at once, go through trauma at a young age or without proper support and resources, it's like taking a big bite out of a sandwich. That bite gets stuck rather than getting digested. EMDR helps us break those memories into smaller, more digestible bites in the brain so we can start to digest new experiences and stop reacting from a place of trauma. Here's a link for more info to see if this is a good fit for you: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/#layperson