About Monica
Monica Cesar McGraw is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) practicing in Massachusetts. She brings six years of professional experience to sessions and speaks English and Portuguese. Monica focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and challenges with self-esteem and motivation.
She uses practical, straightforward methods in conversation. Monica tailors sessions to each person's needs and works together with clients to set clear, usable goals. She aims to make the work feel manageable and relevant to day-to-day life.
Background and approach
Monica often draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help people spot and change patterns that cause distress. She also incorporates mindfulness practices to support emotional regulation and DBT skills when strong emotions or relationship patterns are present. Narrative approaches and motivational interviewing help clients clarify values and find direction during life changes.
Her background includes helping people cope with trauma and loss, as well as managing anger, bipolar symptoms, obsessive patterns, panic, and phobias. She also supports those facing caregiver stress, aging and geriatric issues, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and the practical strains of divorce or family problems. Monica describes therapy as a collaborative process.
She focuses on respectful, sensitive dialogue and builds a plan that fits each person's situation. Her bilingual ability in Portuguese can help Portuguese speakers feel more understood.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical steps to change unhelpful patterns. It can help with anxiety, depression, panic, and many daily struggles by offering clear skills to try between sessions.Dialectical behavior therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal skills. It is useful when emotions feel overwhelming or when patterns in relationships cause repeated problems.
Finding the right approach is a team effort. Monica will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped in the past. Together they decide which methods to prioritize and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect. Video calls allow a fuller conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or be easier when less bandwidth is available. Live chat and text-based messaging work for quick check-ins, tracking progress, or when someone prefers writing to speaking. These options make it easier to use therapy around work, caregiving, and 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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