Profile / United States
Monique Gardner, LCSW
Virginia
LCSW - anxiety and trauma focused
See online therapy options- CBT based methods
- ACT and DBT skills
- Goal oriented work
About Monique
Monique Gardner is an LCSW practicing in Virginia with five years of clinical experience. Monique focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and ADHD. She works with people who want practical strategies and clear steps to feel more in control.
Monique uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) tools. Sessions emphasize noticing unhelpful thoughts and trying different responses. She also draws on attachment-based and client-centered ideas when those perspectives help a person understand relationships and patterns.
Her background includes work with dual diagnosis, post-crisis care, grief, mood and behavioral disorders, eating disorders, OCD, psychosis, and trauma. Monique has experience supporting LGBTQIA+ people and addressing complicated life transitions like adoption, caregiving, and blended family concerns. She blends motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques to set short-term goals and track progress.
In practical terms Monique helps people build skills for managing strong emotions, reduce avoidance, and develop routines that fit daily life. Conversations include concrete homework and simple experiments to test new habits between sessions. The focus is on learning what works, adjusting as needed, and measuring small changes.
To begin Monique asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time, and appointments are coordinated through the provided intake process.
How Monique uses structured approaches online
Monique often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and change routine responses. CBT breaks problems into clear steps - thoughts, feelings, and behaviors - and uses small experiments to test alternatives. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to notice difficult thoughts and values, then take action that aligns with what matters most rather than getting stuck. ACT supports people managing worry, avoidance, and low motivation.She also uses elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach skills for managing intense emotions and improving distress tolerance. Deciding which approach to emphasize is a collaborative process. The therapist and client review goals and try methods that fit the person’s preferences and daily life, adjusting plans based on what helps.
Confirm current session options before booking since specific formats are not listed in the biography. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. These practical benefits help people maintain consistency and practice new skills between sessions while keeping the focus on measurable, step-by-step change.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
Monique commonly works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, and ADHD. She also supports people facing grief, caregiving strain, chronic illness, and relationship or attachment concerns.
How would therapy with Monique feel day to day?
Sessions focus on practical steps like spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. Expect goal setting, short experiments between sessions, and skill practice.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She holds a LCSW and has five years of clinical experience working with dual diagnosis, post-crisis care, mood and behavioral disorders, OCD, psychosis, and trauma.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She is a Virginia LCSW and practices in Virginia.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with this therapist?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are session costs handled?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to get started?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the intake process.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.