unearth verb
un·â€‹earth
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to dig or get out of the earth; dig up
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to make known - bring to light
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to discover (something hidden, lost, or kept secret) by investigation
A B O U T M E
Monica Connelly, LCSW, CADC
Unearthed Therapy PLLC
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a board Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC). I believe that our experiences shape who we are and what we do, and that it takes great courage to become curious about what that means for our lives. In order to begin to recognize our roots and how they have shaped us, we must dig into the ingenious, creative ways we have learned to adapt to the world. Rather than judging our roots, we instead challenge assumptions by recognizing how our methods of self-protection have served us - and how some no longer do.
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When we begin to notice how judgment and shame manifest, we gain new insight into our important methods of self-protection.
This is where healing begins. I believe this process is transformative and creates a heart-centered, authentic therapeutic relationship. I use a holistic approach that aims to help build awareness around how trauma is held in the body. Cultivating support that is grounded in safety helps us integrate experiences and build a sense of self-compassion. This is where healing sustains.
The light of the spirit is special and unique, and we need to nurture it. I trust in the mind-body-spirit connection and have the utmost regard for the innate ability each one of us possesses to create lasting change in our lives. I believe that connecting with our inner selves and the world around us can often be a challenge, but it is also filled with opportunities for relief, healing, and growth.
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Curious about your substance use & its impact on you and your loved ones
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Working through trauma
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Wanting holistic support in your addiction recovery journey
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Feeling complacent in recovery and wanting to deepen your recovery work
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Wanting to feel more wholly integrated to mind, body and soul
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Having a hard time connecting to your emotions
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Experiencing the heavy impact of stress, shame, anxiety and/or depression
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Navigating complex family systems
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Needing support building and/or maintaining healthy, loving relationships
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Wanting to establish or better understand your own personal value system, self-worth and resilience
W E M A Y B E A G O O D F I T I F Y O U A R E :
I have spent nearly a decade working in a variety of settings. I have worked to build and incorporate trauma programming into groups supporting children with refugee status. My insight and experience of working with refugees was published in Refugee Mental Health. I also spent some time working with adolescents in a school setting, and building harm reduction curriculum to help educate the youth on the realities of substance use and addiction. I worked with somatic experiencing practitioners and provided individual and group therapy utilizing a body-based lens. I also spent years working in a group private practice specializing in trauma and addiction. Some of my most impactful professional trainings have included experiential training by Onsite, Couples and Addiction Recovery by Gottman, Working with Complex Trauma by Janina Fisher, amongst many others.
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My most recent chapter prior to opening Unearthed Therapy was working as the Director of Family Therapy at a well-known, respected outpatient addiction treatment center specializing in working with medical professionals and other highly skilled individuals. I facilitated individual therapy focused on shame-resilience and navigating trauma within family systems. I facilitated couples and family sessions supporting both the patient and their loved one as they explored the trauma of addiction while implementing support to the recovery process. I also facilitated group therapy utilizing my own shame-resilience curriculum, inspired by Brene Brown, Janina Fisher and others, with a focus on relapse prevention. I also created a family education program that combined both essential education about the disease of addiction and recovery, and cultivated safety to hold space for intimate sharing and connecting amongst family members. As well as an ongoing support group for those family members.
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I am fortunate to have been able to experience so many different facets of the world of therapy, with specific expertise in addiction and recovery. This has given me an experience of a rewarding career. I have enjoyed each stage, but I have found my passion to be in private practice and the deep, meaningful work that unearths here.
