- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Client-centered care
About Malissa
Malissa Monaghan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York with 25 years of experience. She works with people who face stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship difficulties. Social anxiety and phobia are listed among her focus areas. Sessions are conducted in English and intended for adults in New York.
Her approach is straightforward and practical. She uses client-centered methods to listen and to prioritize what matters to each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are used to teach skills for managing intense feelings and difficult thoughts. She also draws on psychodynamic and solution-focused ideas to help people understand patterns and set short-term goals.
In sessions she helps people name patterns that keep problems going. She works on small, doable changes such as shifting thinking, testing out new behaviors, and building emotion regulation skills. For social anxiety and phobia this can mean practicing social skills, breaking down feared situations, and learning ways to reduce avoidance.
She has long experience with grief, parenting stress, workplace issues, mood disorders, and trauma-related concerns. The practice includes support for people who identify as LGBT and for those coping with isolation or family conflict. Fatherhood and young adult issues are also noted among her focus areas.
People who meet with her can expect clear discussions about goals and recurring problems. The first steps usually involve a short assessment, agreeing on priorities, and trying specific techniques in everyday life. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How therapy approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the person. Online sessions using this approach tend to begin with the client describing their priorities while the therapist reflects and helps set clear goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; it often includes short exercises and homework that can be reviewed between sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills for managing strong emotions and improving relationships, with a focus on skills practice and problem solving. Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose which methods best match the client’s needs, goals, and preferences, and may combine elements from different approaches as the work proceeds. The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into daily life, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when schedules are tight. It also lets the therapist assign and review exercises between meetings, which supports skill-based approaches like CBT and DBT.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, social anxiety and phobia, relationship and family concerns, grief, sleep problems, and workplace issues.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is practical and client-centered, combining skill teaching with discussion of patterns that shape behavior.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 25 years of experience working with a range of concerns including mood disorders, trauma, and interpersonal problems.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) licensed in New York and practices with clients in that state.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current options before booking.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.