Monica Gutierrez, LCSW

Monica Gutierrez is a licensed clinical social worker in Arizona who uses cognitive behavioral therapy as a central part of her approach. She focuses on practical skills for managing stress, anxiety, panic, and mood struggles. Monica speaks English and Spanish and brings seven years of clinical experience to her sessions.

She aims to make therapy a collaborative and straightforward process. Monica listens for what matters most to each person and then helps set small, manageable goals. Sessions often include hands-on tools to change unhelpful thoughts and reactions, and to build new coping routines.

Her background includes work across outpatient and inpatient settings and involvement with a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program. That variety shaped her skill in helping young adults and others navigate big life changes, relationship strain, grief, and compassion fatigue. She also offers support around body image and self-worth concerns.

Monica blends client-centered listening with techniques from dialectical behavior therapy and motivational interviewing. This mix lets her teach emotion regulation, improve communication, and strengthen motivation for change. She pays attention to each person’s strengths and priorities when choosing which tools to use.

Outside of work she enjoys crafting, time with family, and long walks with her dog. These everyday interests inform a warm, relatable style in sessions and a focus on real-life, doable steps toward feeling better.

How evidence-based approaches translate to online therapy

Monica often uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change thought patterns that fuel anxiety, panic, and low mood. CBT sessions focus on specific skills and short-term exercises that translate well to video or phone visits.

She also draws on client-centered therapy, which emphasizes listening and building trust so clients feel heard. That approach helps shape a treatment plan based on each person’s goals and preferences. Monica may include elements of dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance for intense feelings.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. She collaborates with clients to choose techniques that match their needs and life context, and adjusts plans as progress is made. Clients help set goals and decide which strategies feel most useful.

Online formats offer practical benefits for busy lives. Video calls let people work face-to-face without travel. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a short break. Live chat and text messaging are useful for quick check-ins, homework support, or keeping momentum between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a schedule and try different ways of working.