Monica Manuel LPC

• Georgia, Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC007547

Professional Overview I am a psychotherapist and the CEO and Founder of Joie de Vivre Counseling and Therapy. I hold a master’s degree in Professional Counseling and have been in practice 14 years with clinical experience ranging from private practice settings to college and university counseling centers. My postgraduate education includes doctoral training at Spelman College, Georgia State, and Georgia Tech Universities. Individual Counseling I am passionate about helping women transform how they feel about themselves, their intimate relationships and living a more deeply authentic and meaningful life. I believe in collaboration, “power with, rather than power over” and will assist you in finding your voice, stepping fully into your wisdom, foster self-love, and empower you to create a life of passion and purpose. Couples Counseling Couples come to me for a variety of reasons, such as communication, repetitive conflict within the relationship, loss of emotional connection, a desire to rekindle friendship and passion. I enjoy working with couples of diverse sex, gender and relationship identities and utilize the Gottman method which is derived from decades of clinical research and one of the most proven methods for couples’ therapy. Treatment Approach I believe in a holistic approach and I draw upon Mindfulness, Somatic, Biofeedback, and Nature Therapy. I work to treat the whole person and throughout the process assist women in the cultivation of their health and wellbeing. I am strongly influenced by Feminist and Strengths-Based modalities and integrate techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral, Psychodynamic and Attachment Theories. My areas of specialty include intimate relationships, partnership, marriage and Generalized Anxiety Disorders. Research and Professional Affiliations My research and writing focuses on mental health and resilience in women, creating a joyful and purpose filled life, anxiety and stress, intimate relationships, and multicultural psychology. I am an active member of APA (American Psychological Association) Divisions for the Psychology of Women, Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, Georgia Licensed Professional Counselors Association, and Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor. Beyond the Office I enjoy traveling and exploring new cultures. In my spare time I find hiking, swimming, gardening and other ways of connecting to nature to be both relaxing and impactful. I also have two golden retrievers and a cat I enjoy snuggling.