Monica Placheta
Monica Placheta
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California. I provide a warm, supportive space where you can feel safe to explore what's on your mind, process challenges, and move toward growth and healing. I believe therapy should be a collaborative experience - guided by your needs, your voice, and your goals. Reaching out for support takes courage, and I'm honored to walk alongside you in this process.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session, often called the intake session, is a chance for us to get to know each other and start building a foundation for our work together. You don't need to prepare anything special - just come as you are. I'll as some questions to learn more about what's bringing you to therapy, your current concerns, and a bit about your personal history. This helps me understand the bigger picture and how I can best support you. You're always welcome to share at your own pace - there's no pressure to dive into everything all at once. We'll also go over important details like confidentiality, scheduling, and what therapy might look like moving forward. Most importantly, this session is a space for you to ask questions and get a feel for whether this is a good fit for you. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard, supported, and clearer about your next steps.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I bring a warm, culturally sensitive approach to therapy. I offer understanding and relatability alongside professional support. My style is collaborative, trauma-informed, and grounded in evidence-based practices. I aim to create a space where clients feel safe, empowered, and truly seen.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I especially enjoy working with adolescents, young adults, first-generation clients, first responders, and military personnel. As a first-generation individual myself, and someone who comes from a military family and works closely with first responders, I bring a deep understanding of the unique stressors, cultural dynamics, and resilience within these communities. Whether you're navigating anxiety, trauma, identity questions, or life transitions, I'm here to support you with compassion, cultural sensitivity, and practical tools. I draw from numerous evidence-based approaches including attachment-based, cognitive behavioral, compassion-focused, and strength-based therapies. At the core of my work is a deep respect for your lived experience and a belief in your capacity to heal and thrive.
About Monica Placheta
I identify as
Specialties
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Attachment-based
With Attachment-Based treatment, we can explore how your early relationships - especially with parents/caregivers - may still impact the way you feel, relate to others, and handle stress today. In this approach we will work together to understand those early patterns, gently heal past wounds, and build a sense of safety and trust. Over time, this can help you feel more secure in yourself and in your relationships.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps you understand how your thoughts impact how you feel and act. Sometimes we get stuck in patterns of thinking that make us feel worse without even realizing it. With CBT, we will work on noticing those patterns and learn simple, practical tools to shift them. Over time, this can help you feel more in control, less anxious/down, and better able to handle life's ups and downs.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Solution Focused Brief Therapy is a short-term approach that helps you focus on your strengths and what's already working in your life. We will focus on finding practical solutions and setting small, meaningful goals. We will work to imagine the changes you would like to see and build on the resources you already have to get there.
Strength-Based
Strength-Based is all about helping you recognize and use your natural strengths, abilities, and inner resources to overcome challenges and create positive changes. We will work on identifying positive qualities you already have and how you can continue to build on what you have to move towards your goals in a way that feels empowering and authentic.