Dr. Monica Wolfe
About Dr. Wolfe
I am a native Austinite. In college I wanted to work with children and families and became interested in psychology/ neuropsychology as a method to do so. I obtained a Ph.D. from Texas A & M University and then did additional training in Virginia in neuropsychology. I returned to the Austin area so that my children could be near family. I worked in the school setting before entering private practice. I have been working in private practice since 2007 at the ApaCenter. I have extensive training in working children, adolescents, families, and adults. I conduct assessments, do consultations, and family and individual therapy. I also enjoy working with individuals as a life or ADHD coach.
Therapy Statement
We all have moments in our lives when our resiliency is challenged. My goal is to help adults, families, and youth build on strengths to have more fulfilling lives. We build our skills in school and for our work; our emotional development is just as important, if not more so. Therapy is a tool that can help you learn new strategies to cope with life challenges by changing the ways we think, feel, behave and relate to others. I believe one of the most central components of a happy life is the ability to connect and relate well to others. Learning strategies to reduce interpersonal conflict can boost confidence in dealing with difficult situations and create more positive feelings about school, work, and social relationships. Therapy can help by providing individuals an opportunity to work on personal growth and change unhelpful patterns of behavior.
Research supports that having a positive relationship between a therapist and a client is of the utmost importance. My approach is work with you in ways that support your beliefs and philosophy of change. I see therapy as a collaborative, flexible, and individualized process which is based on your strengths and goals. I draw from a number of approaches including cognitive behavioral techniques, feedback-informed treatment, positive psychology, interpersonal therapy, solution-focused therapy, and family therapy strategies. I enjoy working with families to improve communication and the quality of relationships as well as help parents with behavioral management. I enjoy working with youth and adults on issues that arise during life transitions. When working with children and adolescents, collaborating with family and teachers can be a very important part of improving coping strategies and can often be the key to change. I also enjoy working with individuals to improve social skills and social interactions. Improving emotional and social skills can help clients to have a happy, balanced life.
Therapy can be one conduit to help with improving coping skills and reduce problems with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, ADD/ADHD, and difficulties with interpersonal relationships. Overall, I believe that the abilities to collaborate with others, seek support, share joy, communicate effectively, and find purpose in our lives as well as other skills can help us cope with life’s challenges and improve our resiliency and happiness.
Areas of Therapy Specialization
- Teens and family interactions and communication skills
- Collaborative problem-solving techniques (Dr. Ross Greene)
- Depression
- Adjustment to life changes or transitions
- Parent consultation/training
- Dealing with ADD/ADHD
- Social skills improvement
Assessment Statement
I have a focus and specialization in neuropsychology. I am a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Specialist in School Psychology. Before coming to the ApaCenter, I conducted research that allowed me to publish several research articles on neuropsychological assessment and co-author a book chapter about neuropsychological assessment of children. I have also conducted psychological and neuropsychological evaluations in a community based-clinic, university clinic, children’s hospital, and in public schools in Texas and Virginia.
My view is that evaluations are a collaborative process in which information regarding an individual’s strengths and weaknesses are obtained from variety of settings (e.g., home, school, and community) and multiple sources in order to guide intervention strategies. My goal is that, through a comprehensive evaluation, my clients gain a deeper understanding of their skills and how to best capitalize upon them.
Areas of Assessment Specialization
- Neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults
- Assessment of complex learning and processing problems
- Assessment of executive functions, attention, and memory skills
- Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders/Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Degrees/Licenses
B. A. – 1999, Texas Woman’s University
Ph.D. – 2004, Texas A & M University
Licensed Psychologist, Texas #33519
Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, Texas #33115
Nationally Certified School Psychologist