Monique Gardner , LCSW

Monique Gardner is an LCSW based in Virginia who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, and ADHD. Monique approaches care with warmth and a person-centered style. She aims to meet people where they are and focus on usable coping strategies from the first session.

Monique uses straightforward tools drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help people notice unhelpful patterns and try small changes. She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills and attachment-based ideas to address emotion regulation and relationship concerns. Sessions can include mindfulness and motivational interviewing techniques to support shifting behavior.

With five years of clinical experience, Monique has worked with people managing co-occurring conditions, grief, crisis care, eating concerns, OCD, psychosis, and mood disorders. That background informs an adaptable, strength-focused approach that aims to build practical skills alongside emotional processing. She also has experience supporting LGBTQIA+ clients and those coping with adoption, caregiving, chronic health issues, and body image concerns.

Therapy sessions are collaborative and paced to each person's needs. Monique emphasizes clear goals, skill practice between sessions, and checking in about what works and what doesn't. She frames change as a learning process rather than a one-size-fits-all fix.

Monique offers sessions in English and provides online formats including video, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging. Her practice follows Virginia LCSW standards and she focuses on helping people find meaningful, manageable ways to feel better.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It emphasizes values and small actions that move a person toward a meaningful life, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and uses practical exercises to change patterns. CBT is often applied to anxiety, low mood, and ADHD-related challenges.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Monique will discuss goals and life context, try techniques, and adjust based on what feels helpful. Clients and therapist work together to pick strategies that match the person's priorities and daily routine rather than forcing a single method.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits for this work. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skill coaching and emotional work. Phone sessions can be a good fit when bandwidth or camera use is a concern. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, skill reminders, and ongoing accountability between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to practice skills in real time.