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LCSW

Monique Gardner, LCSW

  • Experience5 years
  • LocationVirginia
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Monique

Monique Gardner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia who centers care on each person’s needs and life context.

Background and approach

Monique draws on a holistic, person-centered stance that emphasizes practical coping skills and emotional insight, guiding clients toward sustainable ways to manage stress, anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, depression, and ADHD. With five years of clinical experience, Monique combines solution-focused methods with motivational interviewing to support change while honoring where clients are starting from.

Her work also reflects experience with adoption and foster care issues, attachment concerns, aging and geriatric topics, chronic illness and pain, caregiver stress, and a range of behavioral and mood challenges. Monique integrates evidence-based techniques like Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment-informed interventions, client-centered work, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to tailor sessions to each person’s goals.

She offers a collaborative approach that balances strengths-based perspectives with concrete tools for coping and growth.

Online approaches that meet you where you are

Monique uses Internal Family Systems to help clients explore inner parts and their roles, offering a compassionate way to understand conflicting feelings and traumatic responses. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is also part of her toolkit and focuses on clarifying values and developing psychological flexibility through mindful, action-oriented steps. Attachment-Based Therapy informs her attention to relational patterns and safety in relationships, which can be especially useful for people navigating abandonment, foster care histories, or attachment struggles.

Selecting the right approach is a collaborative process. Monique works with each person to identify which methods align with their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, and she adapts techniques over time as needs change. This allows clients to try different strategies while keeping the therapeutic plan practical and goal-focused.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, apply skills between sessions, and access support from Virginia without commuting to an office, while still working directly with a licensed professional.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Monique commonly address?
She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, depression, and ADHD, as well as related issues such as abandonment, attachment difficulties, chronic illness, caregiver stress, and body image concerns.
How would you describe Monique's therapeutic style?
Their style blends person-centered and solution-focused work with motivational interviewing and strengths-based strategies to help clients build practical coping skills and insight.
What is Monique's clinical background?
Monique has five years of professional experience and has worked with people experiencing dual diagnosis, post-crisis care, grief, mood and behavioral disorders, eating disorders, OCD, psychosis, and trauma.
Where is Monique licensed and what are the credentials?
Monique holds an LCSW and is licensed in Virginia with credential number VA LCSW 0904019356.
Can I work with Monique in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats does Monique offer?
She meets with clients via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible access to care.
How are sessions priced with Monique?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to Monique's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepressionADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

5+ years

Licensed

Virginia

Languages

English