Meet the Monument Team: Inpatient Therapist Monica Gabriele, LAC, CCTS-I

This is our employee spotlight series where we pull back the curtain and shine a spotlight on the incredible people who make Monument Recovery a place of hope, healing, and big-hearted support. Each month, we’ll introduce you to one of our amazing team members - the movers, shakers, and difference-makers who bring their passion and personality to everything they do. Get ready to meet the faces behind the mission and hear their stories. Let’s dive in and get to know the folks who make Monument a true family!

What inspired you to work in the field of substance abuse treatment?

What first peaked my interest in this field was when I was in grad school I took a class on addiction counseling and we had to sit in an AA meeting as one of the assignments. It was during COVID so unfortunately it was only a virtual meeting but after listening to the group members and what they had to say, it made me realize how addiction really is a disease of choice and the immense amount of strength and courage it takes to sustain recovery really moved me. With that being said, my initial journey in behavioral health didn’t start in addiction counseling but in working with children and adolescents because that is the population I was the most comfortable with as I was a teacher before becoming a therapist. After some time, I felt as though I was not being challenged enough clinically and was ready to broaden my horizons. During my job search I received a Linked In message from JP about him looking for a licensed therapist to work with adults in recovery and the rest is history. I love it here!

What do you find most rewarding about working at Monument?

I love our team and our clients! They are the reason I show up everyday. I have never worked with such a supportive and collaborative team. I also feel valued and appreciated which, unfortunately in this field, is hard to come by.

How do you motivate yourself and stay positive in challenging situations?

I remember my “why” which is to help others see the potential in themselves and make them feel seen, heard, understood and loved as the human beings that they are.

What is a personal value or belief that you bring to your work?

I believe that every person deserves the utmost dignity and respect and I like to think I carry that in my sessions with my clients as well as with my coworkers.

What’s one thing your coworkers might be surprised to learn about you?

I love to dance and my mom is from Spain and I speak Spanish.

What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career, and how has it shaped you?

To be yourself! Which I know is cheesy but I attended a book signing for Dr. Nicole LePera also known as the Holistic Psychologist. And I asked her advice for someone who is beginning to be a therapist (aka me) and she said to always remain true to yourself as a therapist because that is the best gift you can give to your clients.

If you could share one piece of advice with someone entering this field, what would it be?

To be honest with your feelings and find people (hopefully the people you work with) that will support you and give you a safe space to express and process your own emotions as you navigate this field. This is not easy work by any means but it is incredibly rewarding and we have the ability to help a lot of people but with that we must take care of ourselves or else we will not have any longevity in this field. I want to be a therapist for the majority of my life and I do not want to get burnt out. It took awhile to find people both in my personal life and in my professional life that offer me the safe space to be able to express my emotions in a healthy way so I can do my job better, and feel better while doing it. So take time to find your people, and once you do, don’t let them go.

In three words, how would you describe yourself?

Kind, Passionate, Fun

Any fun facts or hidden talents you’d like to share?

I play piano and I am that person that visits the animal shelter once and adopts a dog. I love animals!