MONICA'S STORY

Monica is a neurodivergent affirming therapist who Monica has worked neurodivergent people as an educator, community  member, counselor, and parent. She is curious and respectful of the richness and challenges of being neurodivergent in a neurotypical dominated world.

 

Monica comes to private practice after more than two decades steeped in learning about, understanding, and supporting neurodivergent people, including those diagnosed as Autistic, with ADHD, and Executive Function Disorders.  She deeply respects the strengths that comes with those brain based differences.  Often it is the environment that is disabling and she works to develop insight into those challenges, reasonable accommodations, and self advocacy skills.  She also supports clients to find strategies that work for them.

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Before going into private practice, Monica worked in a group practice, supported the founding of the Ivymount School's Model Asperger Program (where she was Director for 10 years), and cofounded Take2 Summer Camp.   She is a co-author of the Unstuck and On Target series (Brookes, 2011, 2023, 2025), a curriculum to enhance cognitive flexibility and problem solving in students with Autism, and Solving Executive Function Challenges: Simple Ways to Get Kids with Autism Unstuck and on Target (Brookes 2013) as well as numerous publications, posters, and presentations in peer reviewed journals and conferences.  She has extensive training in CBT and Acceptance and Committment Therapy and participates in and leads professional consultation gropus.  She also trains extensively on executive function challenges, Unstuck and On Target, and Nuerodivergent Affirming Therapy as a Neurotypical.

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Monica has an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters degree from Johns Hopkins (International Relations) and in 2020 obtained her Masters in Counseling from Palo Alto University.