My name is Monica Miller. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida. I have over 15 years of experience counseling children, parents, couples, and individuals. I received my Master's in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. As a transpersonal counselor, I view my clients' health through three lenses: Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual. While we may not discuss these in each of your sessions, they are always a part of your experience. I have experience working on personal growth, especially in the later stages of adolescence (ages 18-25). My familiarity with working with depression and anxiety allows me to help others in all stages of life.
We will begin our first session by exploring what brings you to therapy. For those who know what they want to discuss, we can dig deeper by collecting some background information. Whether you know exactly what you want to say or are struggling with sharing, I will do my best to help you feel comfortable and ready to discuss. My style is laid back and infused with humor, when appropriate, to help put you at ease. I will share my thoughts and insights with you in a non-judgmental way. At the end, we will discuss if I'm the right fit for you as a therapist.
My style is primarily client-centered, emphasizing and pulling on your strengths to encourage growth. I believe change occurs in the context of a relationship. Therefore, our relationship is extremely important to me. Gently and with humor, I will challenge you and support your growth. I do not believe I have all the answers, but I hope to have the questions that will guide you to find the answers inside yourself. I am a mirror, reflecting parts of yourself you may not see.
Even the most exciting and anticipated life transitions can come with an element of depression and anxiety. The stress that comes at these times can be overwhelming and interfere in the joy of the moment. I love working with couples transitioning into being parents; helping them create a work/life/family balance Similarly, I enjoy working with those in the later stages of adolescence (18-25) as they leave high school or college and begin their adult lives. Stress may be apart of changing but it does not have to dominate the experience to cause anxiety and depression.
I believe every emotion we experience gives more information about the current situation. When we ignore how we are feeling, we miss out on important information. My job is to help you understand what your emotions are trying to tell you. Then, we work on using the logical part of the brain to make decisions, choices, and next steps.
I was training in Gestalt therapy as part of my graduate school work. Gestalt looks to complete unfinished pieces to create a fully formed whole. As we explore what brought you to therapy, I am looking to see what parts still have unfinished work to be done. Using techniques such as "empty chair" you will be able to express the things that all need to be said and complete these stories.