Hello, my name is Monica Miller and I am glad that you’re here.  I love people and the stories that we carry.  It is important to me to respect who you are while working with you to care well for your hurts, uncover and honor your best self, and help you live your most authentic, meaningful, and fulfilled life.

I received my Bachelor’s of Social Work degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and after moving to Seattle, spent the next few years working at the Downtown Emergency Service Center as a Crisis Respite case manager.  It was here that I began to see in action that unsupported and untreated mental health conditions often created the first barrier for accessing the most basic of human needs.  As a result, I transitioned into work as a mental health counselor/case manager on the SAGE team, working with a population of folks affected by severe and persistent mental illness, and enjoyed this work immensely.  I ultimately desired to deepen my understanding of symptoms and treatment and therefore returned to school.  I graduated from the University of Washington School of Social Work in 2011 with a Master’s Degree in Social Work, with a specialty in Health and Mental Health studies.

Following my graduate program, I began working in the Harborview Medical Center Emergency Department both on the Trauma/Surgical and Psychiatric Emergency Services teams.  I regularly met with folks in crisis and loved this fast-paced and demanding work as well, and yet began to desire capturing more of the story- the beginnings, middles, and ends, and not just the points of crisis.  I moved into work at the University of Washington Neighborhood Clinics, providing behavioral health therapy to adults with symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Bipolar Disorder and other mood disorders.  This is where I found my true passion- diving deeply into the stories of a diverse group of people and helping to honor their true selves, passions, hopes, and dreams.  I have been grateful to transition into private therapy practice as a way to do more of what I love.

Throughout my vocational and educational experience, I have become proficient in several evidenced-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (understanding the connection between our behaviors, thoughts and moods), Mindfulness (practicing a present-centered orientation), Problem-Solving Therapy (utilizing adaptive coping skills), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (focusing on Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness and Emotional Regulation) and Internal Family Systems (seeing the Self as a system of multiple parts with varying roles that may need help collaborating).  Most recently I have completed training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and utilize Bilateral Stimulation (generally tapping) to decrease feelings of distress related to trauma, Depression or Anxiety.  I have also honed my practice to incorporate traditions of Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and utilize somatic interventions for trauma and shame.  I have experience working with adults of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds with a variety of diagnoses or sets of symptoms and have truly enjoyed the diversity of needs and stages that exist within the lifespan.

I love to spend time with my family and dear friends, read- especially a good mystery, travel (Mexico is my favorite country!), swim, cook and bake, and take walks through my northwest Seattle neighborhood with my dog.  I would describe myself as warm, respectful, engaging, curious, fun-loving, and easy to be around- I hope that you agree!  I strongly believe that all people are inherently worthy and deserving of love, happiness, access to human rights, and a life well lived and therefore people from all backgrounds are welcome and safe in my space.