MEET MONICA WHALEN, LCSW-R THERAPIST IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
Therapy to nourish your mind, body, heart, & soul.
In your daily life, it may not feel like your voice matters to the people around you as much as the things you do for them.
But when we work together, I’ll encourage you to speak your mind—because I’m here to hear you.
Whatever you’re going through, I want you to know you’re not alone in it anymore. I’ve been there, and I know asking for help is hard, and change can be scary, but take it from me, both are necessary if you’re ever going to feel better. If you’re tired of living this way and ready to get the support you need to move forward with confidence, you’re in the right place.
It is possible to create more balance in your life.
Let’s figure out how to get there together.
MY APPROACH
Hi, I’m Monica!
This is a safe space, where you always have permission to be who you are.
Starting therapy can feel like a big step, but my goal is to make it as comfortable as possible. I want you to feel at ease, like you can bring your full self into the room—whether that means venting about your day, sitting in silence, or laughing at something absurd (yes, I use humor, with a little bit of sarcasm sprinkled in at times because let’s be honest—life is weird).
I’ll listen, validate what you’re feeling, and give you the space to open up at your own pace. But I’ll also challenge you, help you see things from new angles, and sometimes call you out—always with care, but because real growth happens when you can be honest with yourself.
Specializing In…
- Anxiety & Perfectionism
- Relationships & Self-Worth
- Grief & Life Transitions
How It Works
Here, your needs come first.
You’re not meant to live in survival mode—personalized therapy can help you start thriving.
We start with a conversation, getting to know each other and figuring out what you need. Our sessions might be free-flowing and laid-back or more structured, depending on what works best for you. Sometimes, I’ll ask you to think on certain topics between sessions, or give you a homework assignment to help you try something new.
I use an integrative approach to therapy to meet you where you are, meaning I pull from a variety of therapy techniques, grounded in the practices of being client-centered, strength-based, and trauma-focused. At the core, our work together is about helping you make sense of your story. We’ll also take the time to get curious about how emotions show up in your body or the ways your brain and heart might be at odds in certain situations. This can help you start to tune into your intuition and learn to trust your gut more fully.
Through this work of exploring your experiences, making connections, and understanding the patterns, we can start to put the puzzle pieces back together to create a picture that represents the kind of life you want to live. Because at the end of the day, you matter just as much as everyone else, and I want to help you value your own needs, too.
Licensure & Experience
I am a NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20+ years experience, and have worked in a variety of settings—from residential facilities to outpatient clinics. In these settings, I’ve worked with clients of various ages across the lifespan from young children to older adults.
My professional and personal experiences have led me to figure out what client issues I am most passionate about (because in life, we sometimes figure out what we don’t want in order to guide us toward what we do want and find our purpose) leading to the creation of Whalen Integrative Therapy, PLLC.
Modalities & Frameworks
I draw from modalities & frameworks including
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Narrative Therapy
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
About Me & My Journey
The relationship we create together is the foundation of our collaborative work. Even as a trained expert, I will show up to your session grounded in my humanness and authenticity—because I’m a person first, therapist second. This means you will experience all of me as I am—my compassion, empathy, curiosity, sarcastic sense of humor, and even swearing (because sometimes it's necessary to fully describe feelings about a situation); I often show up wearing leggings with funky designs and brightly colored lipsticks—unless of course it's no make-up Saturday (LOL).
A little about me:
●Born and raised in the Rochester area
●Lover of animals and nature
●Appreciates all types of music
●MAJOR Chocoholic
●Enjoys Sunday brunch with my best friend
When I am not at the office, you can find me exploring different places in the Rochester area--enjoying nature in the park, or somewhere by the water or just taking a walk in the neighborhood on a nice sunny, summer day.
While summer is my favorite season, I have been learning to appreciate the cold, dreary winter months in Rochester and enjoy taking advantage of the stillness, to slow down a bit. Especially when it's a cold, rainy or snowy day, I enjoy being at home where I am baking something to satisfy my sweet tooth, or curled up in a blanket with a mug of hot cocoa cuddling with my cat, catching up on my weekly shows or listen to my audiobook--I love a good mystery!
I want you to know that I have been where you are, experienced many of the same struggles you are trying to get work through and have come out the other side stronger and happier--you can too.
I look forward to finding out more about you! Thank you for reading this!
A life of greater confidence, better relationships, & deeper understanding awaits.
Sessions in-person in Rochester & online across New York.