Monica O’Neal
Associate professional clinical counselor
Hi! I’m Monica and I’m an associate therapist here at bareWell. I completed my Master’s at Columbia University in New York, where I gained experience at a private practice serving clients from a diverse range of backgrounds and identities. I’m passionate about providing integrative therapy that is tailored to each client’s needs because I believe that each person’s story and healing process is unique. Our sessions will be a space where you can slow down from the busyness of life to process the week, explore your past, learn coping strategies, or just allow yourself to exist without needing to perform or have it all together. Whether you’re working through a specific challenge or hoping to deepen your connection with yourself, I offer a space where you can explore what’s on your mind without judgment and with room to fully be yourself.
grounded in compassion
Our sessions will be collaborative, explorative, and always grounded in compassion. I believe that a lot of behaviors or thought patterns we struggle with often developed for a specific reason - usually to serve as a protective mechanism at some point in our lives. Rather than seeing these parts of us as problems to fix or get rid of, we can learn to relate to them with more understanding. Together, we’ll get curious about the different parts of you and explore new ways to relate to them.
Culturally relational
I care about getting to know all parts of you, not just the pain or struggles that bring you to therapy, and I’m here to remind you of your innate strengths while also gently challenging you in ways that support your growth. I might bring up patterns I’ve noticed, shifts in your demeanor/body language, or ask about a dynamic happening between us. It is my goal for our relationship to be as honest as possible, and I welcome you to show up fully yourself - embracing all the complexity (and beauty!) that comes with being human. My number one priority is creating a space where you feel comfortable being yourself and sharing anything on your mind.
mind body integration
In addition to talk therapy, our sessions may occasionally incorporate trauma-informed somatic exercises (e.g. breathwork, a bit of movement, pausing to track what’s happening in your body in the present moment). This can be especially helpful for those of us that tend to get stuck in a cycle of thinking and analyzing instead of actually processing our feelings. In times where words can’t access what you’re feeling, these practices can help build a sense of safety within yourself and increase your capacity to sit with difficult emotions. I believe that healing isn’t the absence of difficult thoughts or emotions, but the increase in ability to process them with patience and compassion.
How I Help
I take an integrative approach that includes a mix of IFS, ACT, DBT, psychodynamic, mindfulness, and somatic therapy through a relational and attachment-based lens. We’ll collaborate to figure out what approaches feel best for you while taking your cultural background, values, and goals into consideration.
More About Me
Outside of my sessions, I spend most of my time training jiu jitsu, surfing (terribly), and exploring different hikes/beaches. Nature is my favorite place to reset! As an ambivert, I also love a good balance between cozy alone time (watching tv shows, reading), and spending time with all the people I love.