Monica Cesar McGraw, LICSW
Helping people manage strong emotions and life stressors
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How Monica works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LICSW
- Licensed in
- Massachusetts
- Years in practice
- 6
- Languages
- English, Portuguese
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Monica
Monica Cesar McGraw is a licensed independent clinical social worker in Massachusetts who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, anger, and life changes. She brings six years of practical experience to sessions and speaks both English and Portuguese. She aims to meet people where they are and supports them with respectful, compassionate care.
Monica uses clear, goal-focused methods in conversation. She helps people name what is most troubling, try small changes, and track how those changes feel over time.
Background and approach
Sessions tend to be straightforward and centered on what the person wants to accomplish. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify patterns of thought and behavior that feed anxiety or low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used to teach ways to tolerate distress and manage strong emotions like anger.
Mindfulness-based practices are offered to build attention and reduce reactivity. Motivational Interviewing is part of her style when someone needs help finding practical reasons to change. Narrative Therapy can help people rewrite painful stories about themselves into less limiting ones.
Monica adapts these approaches to each person's situation and goals. Her background includes work with trauma, grief, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and a range of relationship and family stressors. She also addresses aging and caregiver stress, hospice and end-of-life issues, and obsessive patterns.
Monica frames therapy as a collaborative process and helps clients set realistic steps forward.
What Monica works with
Everything Monica lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Monica's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- 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
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Monica lists
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that translate to online care
Monica commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors to reduce anxiety or low mood. CBT breaks problems into small, manageable steps people can practice between sessions.She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and mindfulness techniques to build emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT-style skills can teach breathing and grounding practices, and mindfulness exercises help reduce reactivity when anger or panic arises.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Monica will talk with each person about goals and preferences and then try methods that fit those aims. She adjusts tactics based on what helps over time, working together to shape the plan.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit shorter check-ins or times with limited bandwidth. Live chat and text-based messaging make it possible to check in between sessions or get support in brief moments when needed. These options make scheduling easier and let people keep therapy consistent around daily responsibilities.
Questions people ask about Monica
What kinds of concerns does Monica help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, anger, depression, trauma, grief, self-esteem, relationship and family issues, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and related challenges.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is practical and collaborative. She uses goal-focused conversations and teaches coping skills people can use between sessions.
How much experience does she have?
Monica has six years of professional experience as a clinician in Massachusetts.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an MA and is licensed as an LICSW in Massachusetts.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does pricing and starting therapy work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.