Monica Torres , LCSW

Monica Torres is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Arizona with ten years of experience. She helps people facing depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and low self-esteem. Monica aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can talk about what feels hard and start to feel steadier.

She centers her work on each person’s story and cultural background. Monica often supports people who have faced discrimination or identity-related stress and offers a direct, nonjudgmental approach. She focuses on practical skills that can be used between sessions to reduce overwhelm and improve day-to-day functioning.

Monica draws on several evidence-based approaches to guide sessions. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to notice and change unhelpful thinking, and dialectical behavior therapy skills to manage strong emotions. She also incorporates mindfulness practices and EMDR-informed methods for processing difficult memories when appropriate.

Sessions are collaborative. Monica listens first, then helps set small, achievable goals. She teaches coping tools, helps people track patterns, and works on building self-compassion and resilience. Progress is paced to what each person can handle.

People come to Monica for struggles related to abandonment, caregiver stress, commitment concerns, family of origin issues, and midlife transitions. She also supports those dealing with grief, personality concerns, mood disorders, and the emotional impacts of prejudice and discrimination. Her style is warm, straightforward, and culturally aware.

How Monica blends proven approaches in online care

Monica uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors that lead to better moods. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress by giving clear steps to change patterns that keep problems going.

She also draws from dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. DBT tools help when emotions feel intense or when relationships are strained. Monica may include EMDR-informed strategies to work through traumatic memories when a client and she agree that it fits the goals of treatment.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Monica listens to each person’s goals, background, and comfort level, then suggests methods to try together. She checks in regularly and adjusts the plan based on what works for the individual.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits for her practice. Video calls let therapists observe body language and hold longer sessions, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging provide brief check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it simpler to fit care into busy schedules and to choose the communication style that feels most manageable.