Monica Anderson, MA, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
(206) 388-3929 | [email protected]
I provide Christian counseling for children, teenagers, young adults and their families, and adult individuals. With guidance and compassion, I offer professional counseling skills and experience grounded in the firm foundation of the Christian understanding of the human person. If you feel stuck, scared, or overwhelmed, I would be honored to walk alongside you as you work through it. My clinical understanding of psychology combined with my theological understanding of our minds, souls, and bodies will offer an opportunity for you to move toward the freedom that we are promised in Christ.
Silverdale – Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat
Online (WA Only) – Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat
My Goal as a Christian Counselor
One of my main goals as your counselor is to provide a space where you can experience the safety needed to share about and heal from emotional and relational wounds. With empathy, grace, and compassion, I aim to provide guidance for you to obtain insight into any unhelpful patterns in your life and gain the freedom to make changes. My hope for our time together is for you to experience two things: The freedom to live in the true and distinct identity that God has called you to, and the freedom to fully love God and your neighbor.
What I Offer in Christian Counseling
I offer a safe, welcoming space where you can share your burdens and concerns. In our initial sessions, we’ll begin by deciding upon a shared goal for treatment to ensure that we have the same expectations for what we will be working on together. I am here to walk alongside you and guide you toward the goal you are seeking. I aim to listen without criticism or judgment while providing direction and guidance toward the desired goal.
My Approach to Christian Counseling
One benefit of Christian counseling is that the therapist and client can build on a foundation that includes a shared understanding and belief about who we are and who we are called to be. As a Christian therapist, my clients can trust that I will be working with God, not against God, as we work together. My understanding of the human person, including our bodies, our emotions, our souls, and our sexuality is based on shared Christian Scriptural principles and I will not lead or encourage my client away from these truths. Having said that, I have also grown comfortable wrestling with difficult questions that naturally arise in a fallen world, as well as those who have serious doubts and are struggling in their faith life.
Qualifications & Experience
I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Theology, both from Seattle Pacific University. I earned my Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from City University of Seattle.
My Call to Christian Counseling
After earning my undergraduate degree, I worked with individuals in several different settings, and each of these settings left me with a desire to journey with people in a deeper way.
More About Me/On a Personal Note
I enjoy staying active through jogging, working out, and the occasional 5K road race and local Special Olympics Torch runs. I spend much of my rest and recovery time with my family, keeping up with my nieces and nephews and their various competitions and extracurricular activities.
Areas of Expertise/Specialties
- Abandonment and Neglect
- Aging and Geriatric Issues
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Coaching
- Counseling for Children
- Counseling for Teens
- Codependency
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Family Counseling
- Grief and Loss
- Individual Counseling
- Infidelity and Affairs
- Lifespan Integration
- Men’s Issues
- OCD
- Online Counseling
- Personal Development
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Professional Development
- Relationship Issues
- Sexual Abuse
- Spiritual Development
- Trauma
- Weight Loss
- Women’s Issues
Counseling for Children
My approach to counseling children is to include the main attachment figures in their lives as a part of the healing process. This can look like caregivers being involved in every session, every other session, or sometimes less frequently, depending on the issue at hand. The goal is to strengthen the relationship that they have with their caregivers to allow them to live a more fulfilled life. I’ve worked with children in various capacities for over fifteen years and often utilize components of play therapy in session. Children are in a vulnerable state during this time in their lives. I honor their vulnerability and the crucial relationship that they have with their caregivers as we pursue healing together.
Counseling for Teens
The teen years are naturally filled with complexity and conflict as our teens move through this stage of development. I’ve worked with teens in a variety of settings, as a teacher, a coach, training to be retreat leaders, at a homeless shelter for youth, and as an outpatient counselor. I’ve learned how to develop trust and listen during this stage. Issues can arise during this time that can feel overwhelming and alarming. I am here to offer a place to sort through these issues and offer guidance for a more stable and fulfilling life.
Grief and Loss
Loss is experienced in many different ways and often surprises us in the way it impacts us. Grief is the journey with that loss and how we choose to make meaning of it. We can face loss in so many ways: loss of a job, loss of a relationship, loss of a dream, loss of people, etc. We were not made to walk through loss and grief alone. I am here to walk with you as you face loss and take steps toward finding healing and hope again.
Individual Counseling
I offer individual counseling for a broad range of needs and goals. Sometimes having a professional with clinical expertise and a Christian worldview can be helpful at this point in your life. I am also here to address specific symptoms or patterns of relating that may leave you feeling that it is difficult to live how you want to. I offer a place and a relationship in which you can share, explore, and make changes.
Trauma
A courageous part of inviting healing into traumatic parts of our lives is to reach out for support. It can be scary to acknowledge to another person that something overwhelming took place in your life. So often, this acknowledgment and telling of what took place is necessary and worth the risk. I offer a safe and caring environment, support, and guidance for you to embark on this journey of making meaning and finding hope again.
Availability (by office location):
- Silverdale – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- Online (WA Only) – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.
Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover the service you are requesting.
Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.
Focus Areas
- Abandonment and Neglect
- Aging and Geriatric Issues
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Coaching
- Counseling for Children
- Counseling for Teens
- Codependency
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Family Counseling
- Grief and Loss
- Individual Counseling
- Infidelity and Affairs
- Lifespan Integration
- Men’s Issues
- OCD
- Online Counseling
- Personal Development
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Professional Development
- Relationship Issues
- Sexual Abuse
- Spiritual Development
- Trauma
- Weight Loss
- Women’s Issues