Monique Montpetit

Esther Perel, psychotherapist and author said, “The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.” She was not talking about only romantic relationships. When you’re struggling, it can be fruitful to take an intentional pause and focus on a very special relationship: the one you have with yourself. After all, how you relate to yourself usually mirrors in some way how you relate to others, and to life itself. 

When there are areas of life that cause pain, confusion, or stuckness, therapy can be a safe space to examine the dynamics of your challenges. Life can sometimes be overwhelming. You do not have to navigate these difficult experiences alone.

So maybe you look successful, competent and put-together on the surface, but underneath the mask, you’re a hot mess. Maybe you’re trying to wrangle experiences of anxiety, stress, burnout, procrastination, perfectionism, self-criticism, poor boundaries, people-pleasing, or overthinking. Perhaps you’re haunted by past emotional pain or trauma, struggling to navigate grief and loss, or a life transition has thrown you off your game. You simply may be noticing you’re repeating patterns that aren’t working for you and are keeping you stuck.

I work with Millennial and Gen X adults (ages 28-59+). Depending on what we’re working on, what therapy looks like with me is “What are you noticing now?” and “What are you going to do about it?” I use an integrative approach, with my primary orientation being Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is designed to increase your psychological flexibility by helping you become more present, get clear on your values, drop the struggle with your unwanted internal happenings, and take action to create a life that aligns with what really matters to you. I also draw on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and person-centred, solution-focused, cognitive-behavioural, and mindfulness approaches.

I view every human being as an artist: at every moment, you are creating your life. If you seek to unhook from the patterns keeping you stuck, develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself, and learn new skills to increase your resilience and capacity to handle life’s inevitable ups and downs, I invite you to reach out. 

Credentials:

I’m a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and graduate of Yorkville University, with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. Note that I’m seeking registration as a Registered Provisional Psychologist (circa summer/fall 2024).

Client Focus: Adult individuals, aged 28-59+ 

Therapeutic Approaches:

● Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

● Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - Levels 1 & 2 (in consultation) 

● Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Basic

● Integrative

● Person-centred

● Solution-focused

● Cognitive-behavioural

● Mindfulness

Issues:

Anxiety, high-functioning anxiety, stress, burnout, perfectionism, procrastination, self-criticism, self-worth, overthinking/busy mind, insomnia, people-pleasing, boundaries, career and workplace issues, mid-life, life transitions, grief and loss, trauma. 

More than just my work:

I’m usually lost in a science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, or supernatural horror novel, or a psychology or self-help book. I also love painting with watercolour, other visual arts, collecting more art supplies than I can ever use, lifting heavy weights a few times a week, walking outdoors as often as possible, and spending quality time with friends.