Hello, I'm a therapist practicing in Florida with over 15 years of clinical social work and alternating between Behaviour Health counseling years as a therapist. For a lot of my career I have worked with homeless adults, People Living with HIV, LGBTQ adults / young adults and foster young adults impacted by foster care. I received my Masters in Social work form Barry University. I work with adults primarily but young adults as well who maybe be experiencing identity crisis, substance use, substance misuse, experiencing depression and or anxiety and transitional life experiences, LGBTQ as well as men's health concerns, and aging seniors. I also work with young adult foster children who may be experiencing transition from foster care to independence or have undergone academic challenges that impacts their mental health and sometimes physical health.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Clients can expect a therapist who is warm, receptive to persons of all different cultural backgrounds, genders and sexual orientation, and knowledgeable about our senior population and how maturing in an ageist society presents a special set of challenges that lead to isolation, depression, ambivalence, anxiety. I show empathy and a willingness to guide the client at their individual pace to meet their goals and to overcome life challenges that commits to improving positive outcomes for all my clients.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I've developed a tried-and-true playbook for helping you (a) identify the root cause of your challenges and (b) create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress. Also my strengths also include: 1. Empathy and Compassion: o My ability to deeply understand and connect with my clients’ emotions which fosters trust and healing. o My Empathy allows me to see the world from their perspective, creating a safe space for vulnerability. 2. Holistic Approach: o I recognize that mental health is intertwined with physical well-being, environment, and social context. o My holistic approach considers all aspects of a person’s life, promoting comprehensive healing. 3. Adaptability: o I have work with diverse populations—ranging from young adults to aging seniors— o I adjust your therapeutic techniques to meet each client’s unique needs. 4. Cultural Competence: o My understanding of LGBTQ issues; as a same gender loving male and men’s health concerns reflects cultural sensitivity. o I appreciate the impact of cultural backgrounds on mental health experiences. 5. Resilience Building: o I guide clients through transitional life experiences showcases your skill in resilience-building. o I empower my clients to navigate challenges and emerge stronger. 6. Advocacy and Education: o My work with young adult foster children involves advocacy and education. o I have equipped them with tools to transition from foster care to independence successfully. 7. Collaboration and Teamwork: o Collaborating with other professionals (e.g., social workers, educators) enhances my impact. o I recognize the value of interdisciplinary teamwork.
About Monte Brown
Specializes in
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Here’s how I have used CBT this with my clients: 1. Structured Approach: CBT involves working with a mental health counselor (psychotherapist or therapist) in a structured way, attending a limited number of sessions. It’s often preferred because it can quickly help you identify and cope with specific challenges. 2. Challenging Negative Thinking: CBT helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking patterns. By doing so, you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way. 3. Wide Range of Applications: CBT is used to treat various issues, including: o Mental Health Disorders: Depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, PTSD, sleep disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance use disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, and sexual disorders. o Emotional Challenges: Techniques for coping with stressful life situations, managing emotions, resolving relationship conflicts, and improving communication. o Trauma and Grief: Overcoming emotional trauma related to abuse or violence, coping with grief or loss. o Physical Symptoms: Managing chronic physical symptoms. This approach can be used to treat most emotional and mental health imbalances that can return a client to optimal levels of functioning to achieve life goals and return to a homeostatic state.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related issues. Here’s the reason 1. Target Population: CPT is effective for my who have experienced violence, abuse, natural disasters, or other traumatic events. 2. Structure and Duration: It is typically conducted over the course of 12 sessions, making it a short-term therapy. 3. Challenging Maladaptive Thoughts: In CPT, I helps patients evaluate their thoughts surrounding the trauma. Specifically, they focus on maladaptive or self-blaming thoughts that may exacerbate PTSD symptoms. Clients learn to challenge these thoughts and gain a new perspective when appropriate. 4. At-Home Work: Like some other forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy, CPT involves homework. For example, clients may be asked to write an account of their trauma between sessions, which they later read aloud during therapy. 5. Effectiveness: Numerous studies have demonstrated that CPT is highly effective for treating PTSD. 6. Who Can Benefit: CPT is a viable treatment option for most adults diagnosed with PTSD. It may also be used for older adolescents. Some believe it could be particularly beneficial for individuals who anticipate encountering additional traumatic events (e.g., military personnel, emergency workers) as it aims to alter ongoing trauma processing. 7. Not Recommended For: CPT is not recommended for those without a PTSD diagnosis, individuals with literacy difficulties (due to written homework), or those struggling with substance abuse, suicidal ideation, or comorbid bipolar disorder This approach can be used to treat most emotional and mental health imbalances that can return a client to optimal levels of functioning to achieve life goals and return to a homeostatic state.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Culturally sensitive therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the therapist’s understanding of a client’s background and belief system as it relates to their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or other important elements that make up someone’s culture and/or identity. Here are some takeaway/key points about culturally sensitive therapy and how it works for my clients: 1. Understanding Cultural Context: Culturally sensitive therapists like myself recognize that cultural factors significantly impact an individual’s experiences, beliefs, and behaviors. They take into account a client’s cultural background, traditions, and values when providing therapy. 2. Respecting Differences: As a therapist I incorporate cultural sensitivity into my work to accommodate and respect differences in opinions, values, and attitudes across various cultures. This approach ensures that as a therapist, I can tailor to the client’s unique cultural context. 3. Cultural Competence: Cultural sensitivity allows therapists like myself to gain and maintain cultural competence. This involves: o Recognizing and understanding their own culture and how it influences their interactions with clients. o Understanding and responding effectively to cultures different from their own, considering characteristics such as age, beliefs, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. 4. Therapeutic Alliance: Finding a therapist who is culturally sensitive can help clients—especially those who don’t identify with the dominant culture group—feel understood. A strong therapeutic alliance contributes to more effective treatment. Conversely, feeling misunderstood or disrespected due to cultural differences may lead some clients to avoid therapy altogether. This approach can be used to treat most emotional and mental health imbalances that can return a client to optimal levels of functioning to achieve life goals and return to a homeostatic state.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a modified form of cognitive therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices such as meditation and breathing exercises. Developed to address depression, MBCT teaches my clients to be present in the moment and break away from negative thought patterns that can lead to mood disorders. Here’s what you need to know: o MBCT was formulated to prevent relapse in people who have experienced recurring episodes of depression or deep unhappiness. o MBCT helps individuals who have recovered from depression by rebalancing neural networks. o Rather than avoiding or eliminating negative emotions, clients learn to change their relationship with these emotions. o Meditation and mindfulness exercises are used to accept emotions like sadness and respond differently to difficult situations. o MBCT is effective for people with major depressive disorder who have experienced at least three episodes of depression. o It may also benefit clients with: Generalized anxiety disorders Bipolar disorder General emotional distress Addictions Physical health conditions (e.g., vascular disease, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain) Chronic conditions like fibromyalgia12. Remember that MBCT is typically conducted in a group setting, led by a therapist. It involves meditation, cognitive principles, and practicing mindfulness in everyday routines. If you or someone you know fits this profile, Motivational Interviewing (MI) works for people that need to find the motivation to make positive behavior changes
Motivational Interviewing
o MI is particularly effective for those with mixed feelings about changing their behavior. o As their therapist it supports my clients’ belief in their ability to change by highlighting their skills, strengths, or past successes. Key takeaways: Express Empathy: The therapist listens carefully, conveying understanding of the client’s feelings and experiences. Develop Discrepancy: Clients explore the gap between their current behavior and their desired goals. Roll with Resistance: Rather than confronting resistance, the therapist collaborates and avoids pushing advice. Support Self-Efficacy: Encouraging clients’ confidence in their ability to change. 2. Type of Client who may benefit: o MI works well with individuals who start off unmotivated or unprepared for change. o It’s less useful for those who are already highly motivated. o MI is also appropriate for people who are angry or hostile, helping them move through emotional stages necessary for finding motivation. o Research shows effectiveness in contexts such as: Substance use disorder Smoking cessation Weight loss Medication adherence Cancer care Diabetes management Health behaviors among children