Monica Burtley-Miller, LCSW

Monica Burtley-Miller is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Illinois who uses practical, evidence-informed approaches to help people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, parenting challenges, and depression. She focuses on straightforward, usable skills that people can try between sessions. Monica aims to make the first step feel manageable and supportive.

With ten years of experience she draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients notice how thoughts affect feelings and behavior. She also uses attachment-based and client-centered approaches to strengthen relationships and make space for honest conversation. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Therapy inform short-term goal setting and moments of change.

In sessions Monica listens with curiosity and without judgment. She helps people name what is most urgent and then break it into small steps. That might look like trying a different reaction to a worry, practicing a new way to talk about a problem, or setting a clearer boundary at home.

She helps people cope with caregiver stress, communication problems, control issues, guilt and shame, loneliness, and questions about life purpose. Monica also supports those facing post-traumatic stress, social anxiety, and mood disorders.

People can expect a collaborative process where goals and methods are shaped together. The focus is on practical changes that fit each person’s life, pacing the work so it feels doable rather than overwhelming.

CBT and relational approaches for online care

Monica commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes that reduce distress. CBT is a hands-on approach that often includes simple exercises and experiments to practice between sessions. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to look at patterns in close relationships and increase safety and connection in how people relate to others. This approach can help with communication problems, relationship stress, and some forms of anxiety.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Monica will listen to your goals and preferences and then suggest methods that fit your needs. She works collaboratively, adjusting pace and techniques so progress feels manageable.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow for face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions require less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day, and live chat or text messaging let you check in between sessions or use writing as a way to process thoughts. These options can help therapy fit around caregiving, work, or other responsibilities while keeping the focus on skills and real-life changes.