Hi, I'm Monica...

I am a licensed Psychologist in Claremont, CA. with over 15 years of clinical experience. I started my career working with individuals on the autism spectrum before pursuing my doctorate in psychology (PsyD) in Chicago. During my training, I was able to work with a wide range of human experiences. I not only grew in my practice, but solidified my love for the work I get to do. I completed my Postdoctoral Residency at Kaiser Permanente, Northern California and returned to my home base to begin work in private practice.

I feel honored to walk alongside people in their life journeys. I am the oldest child in a family of five children and an older sister to an autistic sibling. My interest in both the helping profession and the impact of relationship dynamics began early. There are so many experiences that can shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. I feel a lot of excitement in collaborating with others in deepening self understanding, gaining clarity, and finding movement towards their own valued life.

Outside of practice, I enjoy any opportunity to play. I love finding small local adventures to enjoy with my family, I like to invest time in creative projects, and find fulfillment in time spent outside in nature.

My Approach

I approach therapy with a curiosity, aiming to really hear and understand the very personal lived experience of each client. Using an interpersonal and relational approach I view everyone as social beings working their best to navigate a social world. I explore early attachment experiences that inform our views of self, others, and the world around us. I utilize a lot of my own reactions in the therapy session and encourage my clients to share their reactions towards me, believing this provides valuable feedback. Our bodies are very useful tools and I like to increase understanding of internal responses to help build emotional self-awareness and inform how we would like to approach future experiences. I enjoy using humor with my clients and co-creating ways to navigate challenges in order to live a more valued and fulfilled life.