Monique Garcia – True Heart Therapy

Hi, it's nice to meet you!

I'm Monique Garcia, and I'm glad you're here.

What is a fun fact about myself?
Anyone that knows me, knows I love frogs. Just something about them, they make me smile. So, no surprise, I have frogs in every room of my house and in my car. I also enjoy gardening, being in the sun, and cooking new recipes. In my free time, you can find me in my kitchen listening to the comedy station on Pandora and cooking up a storm.

What can you expect as my client?
As my client, you can expect to be accepted as you are, regardless of your cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or if you like frogs or not…haha.

Who am I outside of therapy?
Outside of therapy, I am a mother to a teenage boy….oh joy! I am also the proud human to two adorable cats. I am an avid gardener, I love to cook, and enjoy dancing, regardless of who is watching.

How did I become a therapist?

My path toward becoming a therapist has been a long one, yet also a very rewarding one. I started at Portland Community College in 2009 and slowly made my way toward Graduate school. I did take a short detour and pursued a nursing degree for some time, however I ultimately returned to the mental health field, and am so glad I did. After earning my bachelor’s in psychology from Portland State, I worked as a CNA for many years with seniors in their home. I cherish my time with my former clients and in a way, it prepared me for my future as a therapist.

Pronouns: She/Her

As a student with Capella University, my training for counseling is focused on clinical mental health counseling. I have completed all but one of the required courses for my master’s degree, in progress now, and have successfully completed two 5-day in-person trainings, as required for my degree.

For the last ten years, I have worked as a CNA and caregiver for seniors in their home. In addition, I have worked in an eating disorder program with adults and adolescents for the last 2 1/2 years. Most importantly, I have been a single mother for over 15 years. I have many years of experience in caregiving and nurturing, only natural that it led me to the counseling profession.

My ideal client is someone who is open to healing, open to change, and open to asking for help. I know from my own personal counseling experience how frightening it can be to seek help and accept it. My ideal client understands that I am human just as they are, but that I have acquired professional counseling skills in an effort to help others find peace and live their lives to its fullest potential.