We had the good fortune of connecting with Monique Valle and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Monique, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My balance has shifted and evolved and continues to be a work in progress. In grad school, I was an expert in compartmentalization -when I was studying or working on a project, nothing else existed outside of that. While it was super effective and I survived, I quickly realized how unsustainable it is. As a therapist, I have such an intimate and sacred role –it’s my duty and responsibility to regularly cleanse my energy and nourish myself so that I can show up to hold space for my client’s most vulnerable and private moments. I am also a highly sensitive person (HSP) and empath, so my threshold for overstimulation and emotional burnout can be a little more sensitive than others and I must manage my emotional and energetic capacity differently. I need intentional and consistent self-care or nourishment to refill my cup again. With this insight into myself and the freedom, flexibility, and trust of my supervisors and codirectors at our group private practice, I’m able to make my own schedule -so I ensure that I have enough breaks in between sessions, and work during the hours in which I have the most energy and take days off with nothing scheduled so I can disconnect and recharge. My balance fluctuates depending on my capacity, needs, and who I am providing support and care for.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. I have been practicing for over a year now at a group private practice, Gather and Grow OC. The transition of graduating and stepping into this new career as a professional was overwhelming with trying to keep both feet on the ground. I am an artist and a creative and at times, I have so many ideas flowing through me, that it’s rough to mold and form them all into something resounding and tangible. My mentors at Gather and Grow OC guided me to finding the root of my brand which integrated my professional and personal identities. I call my therapeutic process “unearthing” or digging into our roots to uncover what needs to be healed for ourselves. The word stems from the place I find myself when I meditate –a safe and cozy forest with moist soil and fresh green trees. I am pretty open with my personal story and my identities as I value authenticity and strive to be as congruent as I can across all spheres of my life. As an intersectional feminist therapist, I keep in mind that any individual change within therapy can only go so far if the larger systems and culture remain the same. I believe that my role as a therapist must extend into active participation through therapeutic advocacy that includes challenging the -isms, learning and listening to others, providing resources, facilitating psychoeducation through workshops, and providing accessible information online. In my role as a therapist, I am able to share what I’ve learned with others, stand grounded in my values, and express myself creatively through a mixture of my scientific nerdiness, a dash of magic and enchanting enthusiasm, and a few spoonful’s of high sensitivity, compassion, and intuition. A nice side effect of my openness and authenticity is that I am sending out a clear signal or message to clients that align and resonate with me and my approach. I provide an open invitation to those that are receptive and ready to dig into their own healing work. It is an honor to witness and accompany clients on this journey.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Southern California has a lot to offer and I’ve always loved that we’re simultaneously so close to the beach and the snow on the mountains. One of my favorite places in Orange County is Laguna Beach with its vibrant energy, eclectic artists, and hidden beaches. As a child of parents that grew up in East Los Angeles, I have fond memories of just driving around the city, looking at the architecture, visiting museums, and unique shops and areas.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Throughout my journey, I have connected with incredible professors and mentors in undergrad and grad school at California State University, Fullerton, that led me into the counseling field and shared their instrumental wisdom and teachings. I completed my practicum with Orange Coast College Student Health Center and my experiences were invaluable as my supervisor, Larry Valentine, encouraged and facilitated opportunities for me to learn to trust myself and my intuition and therapeutically utilize my sensitivities. I found my home after graduation in an incredible, woman owned and operated group private practice, Gather and Grow OC, in Fullerton. Co-directors Jacqueline Plante and Traci Medeiros-Bagan have cultivated such a magical, loving, and cozy space for my supervisors, colleagues, and I to flourish and bloom into discovering our specialties and niches, and how we can utilize our gifts to connect back to the larger whole to help create lasting change in our society and communities.
Website: https://www.therapywithmoniquevalle.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapy.with.monique/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therapywithmoniquevalle
Other: https://www.gatherandgrowoc.com/monique-valle
