About Monica
Monica Cesar McGraw is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) based in Massachusetts. She brings six years of clinical experience and speaks English and Portuguese, offering care in both languages. She uses practical therapy methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
Her work also addresses trauma and abuse, grief, and challenges with motivation and self-esteem. She listens first and adjusts the approach to fit each person's needs.
Background and approach
Monica uses tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to help people change unhelpful thoughts and build coping skills. She also draws on mindfulness and narrative techniques to help people notice patterns and reframe painful experiences. Motivational interviewing is used when people are unsure about change and want to find their own reasons to try new things.
Her practice supports people facing relationship strain, family problems, anger, bipolar mood challenges, and ADHD-related concerns. Additional areas of focus include obsessive-compulsive patterns, panic attacks, paranoia, phobias, and end-of-life or caregiver stress. She takes a straightforward, respectful approach in sessions.
Monica aims to make the process clear and manageable. She works with each person to set goals and pick techniques that fit their life. Small, steady steps are emphasized over quick fixes.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Monica commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy during online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical exercises to reduce anxiety, panic, and unhelpful thinking. Dialectical behavior therapy emphasizes skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving interactions with others, which can help with intense moods and relationship strain.She also brings mindfulness into sessions to help people notice their reactions without judgment, and uses motivational interviewing when someone feels unsure about making changes. Finding the right mix is a collaborative process - the therapist will talk with the client about goals, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what feels most helpful and realistic.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and ongoing text-based messaging. Video works well for deeper conversation and practicing skills together. Phone sessions can fit a busy schedule or use less bandwidth. Live chat or text messaging can be useful for brief check-ins, homework support, or when typing feels easier than speaking. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into daily life.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
Also listed
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Social anxiety and phobia
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 6 years
- Licensed
- Massachusetts
- Languages
- English, Portuguese
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