Warm Greetings! I have 31+ years of experience in the counseling field. I earned my Masters degree through Longwood University. I have specialized in working with children, tweens, teens, and young adults. Adult clients ranging up to seniors can explore in an accepting space as I journey alongside them. I currently work extensively with diverse families and adults with unique backgrounds as well. I believe in creating a safe space for all individuals to be heard and validated. I value building trust and openness with people to support them as they unravel the twists and turns that life presents us all. When I listen attentively in sessions, the person, couple, or family are the most important people in the room as we seek to shed light on the areas we can discover together. I see clients both virtually and in my office. *In-office sessions require prior approval by contacting me directly.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we will get to know each other by sharing highlights of who we are. The goal is to start to build a trusted connection and level of comfort. We will then discuss the presenting issues and goals of therapy. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions. Know that we can adjust therapy as needed as issues present themselves.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
In 30+ years of focusing on human instincts, patterns of various behaviors, and mental health, I have gained expertise in working with diverse people and groups. I believe in prioritizing unconditional acceptance to increase self-awareness, which leads to empowerment and confidence- so that clients can improve their situations and feel relief. I seek to help clients see the big picture of their lives but also to focus on the little things that have a big impact. I hope to work together in the counseling process efficiently, but with grace to meet the goals that will ultimately bring the client to a greater overall well-being.
About Ben Montano
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Licensed in
Address
4920 Millridge Parkway, Midlothian, VA 23112, Suite 210Appointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Our distorted thoughts and self-narratives we tell ourselves can be the root of emotional distress. I am skilled in exploring these thoughts and scripts we tell ourselves to alleviate a range of stress and negative emotions that trap us in negative cycles.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Do you know what you value most in life? Who and what parts of your life do you prioritize and stand committed to and why? These are some of the questions we should assess and define to identify key values to guide our lives. I have used ACT to help people design a new blueprint for their lives.
Compassion Focused
I believe in leading with empathy and unconditional acceptance to create a safe space to allow clients to unravel issues and trauma that impair their functioning.
Couples Counseling
In helping couples, communication and seeking understanding rather than deciding who is right is an initial goal. For each partner to feel validated, sometimes couples need a facilitator who can objectively level the complex landscapes of a shared life. Most couples fall into "kitchen sinking" in which one argument leads to unloading all the things going wrong in the relationship. "How did we get here?" and "What do we both want?" are questions to be answered in a neutral and safe space.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
We often carry family rules, roles, and cultural patterns of our ancestors into each generation. We all experience the world in a unique way, but we also carry our familial expectations from our "tribes" within us. How does our culture impact our beliefs, behaviors, and relationships?