Hi, I’m Monica Cavalcante, LCSW, M.Ed., a licensed psychotherapist specializing in trauma, PTSD, and OCD treatment for adults seeking deeper, lasting change.

I work with people who may appear to be functioning well on the outside while internally feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or disconnected from themselves. Some clients come to therapy feeling consumed by intrusive thoughts or the need for certainty. Others carry the effects of past experiences that continue to affect their relationships, self-worth, emotional well-being, or daily lives.

My approach is calm, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that each person has an innate capacity for healing. I do not believe healing needs to be rushed or forced. Therapy offers an opportunity to slow down, understand what is happening internally, and reconnect with the wisdom and resources that may have become difficult to access through life's experiences.

I often work with clients who have spent years trying to manage symptoms without fully understanding the patterns underlying them. Anxiety, avoidance, perfectionism, emotional shutdown, people-pleasing, shame, and self-criticism can begin to make more sense when we explore what these patterns may have been trying to protect.

My clinical training includes Level 3 training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) through the IFS Institute, as well as specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) through the International OCD Foundation's Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI). I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) through an EMDRIA-approved training program.

I integrate these specialized, evidence-based approaches, along with DBT-informed skills, to provide individualized treatment that addresses both present-day symptoms and underlying emotional experiences. Depending on your needs, our work may involve reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms, processing traumatic memories, exploring protective parts of yourself, or developing greater emotional regulation and internal stability.

My background in clinical social work and education, combined with advanced training in trauma treatment, OCD, and parts work, informs a thoughtful and individualized approach to therapy. My style is active and engaged while remaining respectful of your pace, readiness, and personal goals.

Whether you are navigating OCD, trauma, intrusive thoughts, emotional overwhelm, or long-standing patterns that feel difficult to change, my goal is to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself and reconnect with your innate capacity for healing and growth.