Monique Garcia – True Heart Therapy

Hi, it's nice to meet you!

I'm Monique Garcia, and I'm glad you're here.

What is a fun fact about myself?
Anyone that knows me, knows I love frogs. Just something about them, they make me smile. So, no surprise, I have frogs in every room of my house and in my car. I also enjoy gardening, being in the sun, and cooking new recipes. In my free time, you can find me in my kitchen listening to the comedy station on Pandora and cooking up a storm.

What can you expect as my client?
As my client, you can expect to be accepted as you are, regardless of your cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or if you like frogs or not…haha.

Who am I outside of therapy?
Outside of therapy, I am a mother to a teenage boy….oh joy! I am also the proud human to two adorable cats. I am an avid gardener, I love to cook, and enjoy dancing, regardless of who is watching.

How did I become a therapist?

My path toward becoming a therapist has been a long one, yet also a very rewarding one. I started at Portland Community College in 2009 and slowly made my way toward Graduate school. I did take a short detour and pursued a nursing degree for some time, however I ultimately returned to the mental health field, and am so glad I did. After earning my Bachelor’s in Psychology from Portland State University, I worked as a CNA for many years with seniors in their home. I cherish my time with my former clients and in a way, it prepared me for my future as a therapist.

Pronouns: She/Her

As a student with Capella University and member of Chi Sigma Iota, my soon-to-be degree will be in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have completed all of the required courses for my Master’s degree and have successfully completed two 5-day in-person trainings, in addition to accumulating over 100 hours of counseling experience.

For the last ten years, I have worked as a CNA and caregiver for seniors in their home. In addition, for the last three years, I worked in a hospital setting with adults and adolescents partaking in treatment for an eating disorder; PHP/IOP. Most importantly, I have been a mother for over 15 years. I believe that being a mom and a caregiver in many settings has been a valuable attribute in my path toward becoming a counselor, as it fosters empathy, understanding, and practical skills that enhance the counseling process.

My ideal client is someone who is open to healing, open to change, and open to asking for help. I know from my own personal counseling experience how frightening it can be to seek help and accept it. My ideal client understands that I am human just as they are, but that I have acquired professional counseling skills in an effort to help others find peace and live their lives to its fullest potential.