Monica Dada (Barham)
Hopeful, practical therapy grounded in skills and empathy
MD, LCSW-C Maryland
- Experience
- 20 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Monica
Monica Dada (Barham) is a licensed clinician who helps people navigate stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, trauma and a wide range of relationship and identity concerns.
Background and approach
With two decades of professional practice, she blends practical coping strategies and empathy to support clients working through issues such as intimacy difficulties, parenting and family conflicts, eating and body image concerns, career stress, ADHD, and compassion fatigue.
Her style emphasizes collaboration and skill-building, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered methods to tailor interventions to each person’s needs. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused techniques are also woven into her work when helpful, supporting momentum and clearer decision-making during transitions like divorce, fertility struggles, or chronic illness challenges.
Monica holds an MD and is licensed in Maryland as LCSW-C, bringing medical and social work perspectives to her therapeutic approach. She offers a calm, nonjudgmental space for exploring guilt, shame, gender dysphoria, HIV/AIDS related concerns, and complex co-morbid presentations, aiming to help clients build resilience and practical tools for daily life.
Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Support
Monica commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns; CBT is often useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many day-to-day coping challenges. She also integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on clarifying values and building psychological flexibility so people can move toward meaningful goals even when difficult feelings are present. Client-Centered Therapy rounds out her approach by prioritizing empathic listening and a respectful therapeutic relationship to support personal exploration and growth.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Monica works with each client to determine which combination of methods best matches their needs, preferences, and goals, adjusting techniques over time as progress and circumstances evolve.
Online therapy with Monica is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access consistent care during life transitions, when managing chronic health or caregiver roles, or while balancing work and family obligations. Licensed professionals can tailor pacing and tools to the remote format to help clients build practical skills and maintain momentum between sessions.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Licensed
Maryland
Languages
English