Monica Reza
Hi, I’m Monica Reza, LCSW. I’m a therapist born and raised in Southern California. My own life experiences has played a big role as to why I chose this work. For over eight years, I’ve worked with people navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, chronic illness, and more complex mental health challenges. My style is warm, direct, and practical. I want therapy to feel like a space where you can be honest, learn useful skills, and better understand yourself without feeling judged. I often focus on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, relationships, and building a stronger sense of self worth, while pulling from approaches like CBT, DBT, ACT, and solution-focused therapy. I also provide Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for clients who want to work more directly on trauma. We can explore whether CPT is the right approach for you based on your needs and goals. Sessions are primarily offered by video.
My biggest strength is working with individuals with layers of intersections and tailoring treatment that speaks to you.
First session
Our first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and better understand what brings you to therapy. We’ll review any assessments or screeners you completed, talk about the symptoms or concerns you’ve been experiencing, how often they’re showing up, and gather any additional information that can help me understand the bigger picture. We’ll also talk about what you’re hoping to get out of therapy and begin identifying goals we can work toward together. I’ll explain a little more about my approach, answer any questions you have, and make sure we’re on the same page when it comes to scheduling and expectations. I also believe it’s important for you to get a sense of whether I feel like the right therapist for you. The therapeutic relationship matters. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit, that’s okay. We can use that time to better understand what you’re looking for, narrow down what may be most helpful, and explore options for connecting you with another provider who may be a better match.
Strengths
I bring a warm, honest, and direct approach to therapy. I’m a strong listener and stay open and curious, because I believe each person is the expert on their own life. My role isn’t to tell you how you should feel or live, but to help you better understand yourself and find what works for you. I also take a whole person approach, recognizing the connection between mind, body, and spirit. I draw from research based therapies while adapting them to the individual, rather than using the same approach with everyone. My experience working with people from many different backgrounds has taught me the importance of meeting people where they are and creating a space where they can feel supported, challenged, and comfortable being themselves.
Ideal clients
I work well with clients from a wide range of backgrounds, especially people from marginalized communities and communities of color, including Black, Latino, Native, Asian, and multiracial clients. I welcome clients of all genders and value creating a space where culture, identity, family, and life experiences can be part of the conversation. The clients I tend to work best with are people who are ready to be honest with themselves, open to feedback, and willing to look at patterns that may be keeping them stuck. You do not have to have everything figured out, but a willingness to grow is important. Together, we can work on both short term and long term goals, such as managing emotions, improving relationships, building self worth, setting boundaries, changing unhelpful patterns, and creating a life that feels more aligned with who you want to be.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Serves
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 117825
- WashingtonLicense SWI.LW.60947929