Monica Cesar McGraw, LICSW - Therapist in Massachusetts

About Monica

Monica Cesar McGraw is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) practicing in Massachusetts. She uses clear, practical methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, and low self-esteem. She is bilingual and speaks Portuguese in addition to English.

Monica focuses on offering respectful, compassionate care while tailoring conversations and plans to each person’s needs. Monica has six years of clinical experience working with a range of concerns including trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family issues, anger, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.

Background and approach

She also addresses ADHD and related struggles. Her approach blends several evidence-based therapies to match the needs of each person who reaches out. In sessions she draws from cognitive behavioral therapy to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, dialectical behavior therapy for emotion regulation, and mindfulness techniques to reduce reactivity.

Motivational interviewing and narrative therapy are used when clients want to clarify values or rewrite unhelpful stories about themselves. Monica adapts these tools to practical goals parents and caregivers often bring. Therapy conversations are tailored rather than scripted.

Monica listens for what matters most, then builds small, achievable steps toward change. She respects cultural and language differences and works to make each session understandable and concrete. To begin, a person completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How Monica’s approaches translate to online therapy

Monica commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy in online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and homework. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness.

She also brings mindfulness practices into sessions to help people notice stress and respond differently. These approaches are explained in simple terms and adapted to each person’s goals. Choosing the right combination of methods is a collaborative process - the therapist will talk with the client about preferences, try options, and adjust based on what is helpful.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and let people pick what feels most comfortable for them. Monica uses these formats to share exercises, check progress between sessions, and keep momentum toward small, practical changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Mindfulness Therapy

Attention training: noticing thoughts and physical feelings as they arrive without being carried off by them. Much of it is practice you do yourself, so guidance over video or audio works much as it would in person.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Monica address?

She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, relationship and family issues, anger, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. ADHD and related concerns are also listed among her areas of focus.

What is her general therapy style?

Monica uses straightforward, practical methods. She blends cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical skills, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and narrative approaches to meet specific needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has six years of professional work experience in clinical settings. That experience informs how she applies different approaches to common problems.

What credentials and location apply?

She holds an MA and is a licensed independent clinical social worker - LICSW with license number LICSW125938 in Massachusetts.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English and Portuguese.

What session formats are offered?

Monica provides sessions via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.

How are sessions paid for?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 6 years
Licensed: Massachusetts
Languages: English, Portuguese

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