I have over 33 years of experience working with children and families. I also feel a bond with women and motherhood or general relationship issues. I am a certified Mediator, as well as a trauma-informed and EMDR-trained therapist. I have had the opportunity to work with diverse populations I believe life is often not a fair playing field, based on race and economics. I consider myself a generalist, someone who can deal with any situation in real-time and support my clients no matter what they are facing. I am very client-focused. My goal is always to reduce symptoms. My strategies include teaching how to reframe thoughts and defining and utilizing coping skills that better serve emotional health.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I hopefully will have behavioral scales completed for a baseline, but I often start with someone's concerns and motivation to attend therapy. I will assess symptoms and safety. I like to get some family background, but I am typically focused on a client's concerns or symptoms. I believe it takes a couple sessions to devise an ongoing plan and establish rapport and to see if it is a good fit. Informed consent, confidentiality and safety will be discussed. We will decide together how to plan our treatment, with end goals in mind. I am flexible about shifting course as needed.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I think my biggest strength as a therapist is my high emotional intelligence and ability to connect/ build rapport with a diverse group of people. I have received consistent feedback regarding this and I get personal and professional satisfaction from my client's progress. I feel very invested in this and that is why I'm here. My specialties would include: Marriage and parenting issues, female empowerment, addictions, trauma and Cognitive Behavioral therapies to address anxiety and depression
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I have practiced as a generalist over my career and I have work in various settings, including education, and correction systems. My ideal client is always someone who can partner with me, attend sessions and complete their goals, but I will be their biggest advocate, if life gets in the way.
About Monica Dolan-Strachan
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Many people have been successful in addressing anxiety, either specific like driving or socializing, or generalized anxiety. Depression, eating disorders, family conflicts, trauma can be addressed by changing our thinking traps, which can often result in behavioral shifts.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I have several decades of experience working with families, especially parent/adolescent issues. I am a certified mediator, which can also benefit families at any stage of life. I am well versed in risk and protective factors, as well as any clinical issues. Additionally, I work with 12-18 year olds individually and I include parent input and provide feedback, especially for children under the age of consent for treatment.
Trauma Informed Care
I am EMDR certified. I have experience with Veterans, victims of crime, childhood trauma, Incidental trauma, such as car accidents, sudden grief and loss and I provide my treatments based on client needs.