Monica Melanson

Throughout her career, Monica has worked extensively with people experiencing significant mental health challenges and substance use, as well as first responders, military members and families, healthcare and helping professionals. She also supports people navigating trauma and difficult past experiences, anxiety, grief and loss, workplace stress, relationship challenges and major life transitions. She understands that people often come to therapy carrying more than one thing, and that good therapy doesn't always fit neatly into a single diagnosis or category.

In her work with couples, Monica helps partners understand the patterns they get caught in, explore what is happening underneath conflict and disconnection, and work toward greater understanding and connection. Her couples work is grounded in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT).

Monica is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and incorporates EMDR when past experiences continue to influence someone's present life. Her approach also draws from CBT, Emotionally Focused Therapy, narrative approaches and harm reduction.

Monica approaches therapy with curiosity, honesty and respect for the knowledge people already have about themselves and their lives. She works collaboratively with people to understand what is happening, explore what matters to them, and find an approach to therapy that makes sense for them.

Monica provides virtual therapy to adults and couples across Ontario and New Brunswick.

Credentials & Training

• Master of Social Work (MSW), McMaster University

• Registered Social Worker (RSW) — Ontario & New Brunswick

• EMDR Basic Training

• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Externship & Core Skills

• Post-Graduate Certificate in Couples & Family Counselling

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• 20+ years of experience in community mental health

Areas of Specialty

• Trauma and difficult past experiences

• Significant mental health challenges

• Substance use and harm reduction

• First responders, military members and families

• Healthcare and helping professionals

• Couples and relationship challenges

• Anxiety

• Workplace stress and burnout

• Grief and loss

• Major life transitions

• EMDR