Monica Chambers Dailey

I'm an HBCU graduate, Philosophy major, and a proud mom of three. I started my career working with children in dependency cases at the Children's Advocacy Center in Polk County, and I have experience with substance abuse treatment as well. I was trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in 2016, which was a life-changer for me. I finally found a treatment modality that could apply across populations, is skills-based, and is deeply philosophical at its core. DBT has a strong influence from behaviorism and cognitive therapy, as Marsha Linehan put it: to help people "act their way into a new way of feeling".

I have worked extensively with individuals who are trauma survivors to help them resolve the past and learn how to live more effectively. I have helped individuals who have experienced family-of-origin dysfunction, to find the balance between acceptance (of themselves and others) and change (what's in their control). I have also assisted individuals with navigating toxic or unhealthy work relationships, and my background in rehabilitation counseling is useful in helping clients work through change-of-life issues.

I appreciate and respect all my clients, and humbly hold space for those who are ready and motivated to change. This is the work I have been called to do, and it is my sincere honor to bear witness and offer support to others on their mental health journey.

My general orientation is dialectic, meaning that two seemingly opposing ideas can be true at the same time. My clients are doing the best that they can AND they can do better and push themselves further. This is one of the main assumptions of DBT and how I approach the work. I strive for the balance between affirmation and accountability, acceptance and change. I also recognize our shared humanity and the importance of normalizing my clients' struggles.

My clients can expect to be seen and heard from the first interaction. In our first session, it is my goal for new clients to walk away with a clear sense of where they've been, where they are now, and hope for where they are headed.