About
Dr. Mónica M. Alzate, LCSW, MA
As a bilingual Clinical Social Worker and Scholar with over 30 years of experience, I operate at the intersection of evidenced-based clinical practice and social justice. My career has spanned from public child welfare, social work academia at the University of Oklahoma, and community mental health, to clinical services, research, and medical education at Baylor College of Medicine, giving me a unique foundation in both rigorous research and compassionate care. After a successful academic career as a tenured faculty, I faced helpless despair after devastating loss. This led me to recreate my inner and professional world, put pieces together, and set my life in motion again by shifting from social work academia to psychotherapy and then to medical academia where I could merge both worlds. Healing others helped me understand and heal myself.
I provide psychotherapy for adults who are navigating complex life transitions and want a structured, reflective space to understand themselves and their relationships more clearly. Example: Work/family demands, health challenges, life meaning, mental/physical changes, burnout, family conflict, complex parenting, boundaries, loss, retirement. The types of therapy I use are determined by each patient's needs. Some people respond very well to CBT, others benefit more when combined with mind/body techniques, and others need EMDR/Trauma Focus, psychodynamic, or want to explore narrative therapy. Often, I use an Integrative approach where the person and their strengths are always at the center. For me, context matters. Whether I am conducting a forensic evaluation for an asylum seeker, walking in nature with a therapy client, or in an EMDR session, I look at the whole person—their environment, their history/culture, and their strengths. My approach is collaborative and evidence-based, offering depth, clarity, and practical tools for healing, resilience, exploration, and growth.
What can you expect from your first session with me? The first session is usually a preliminary psychosocial evaluation to determine the course of treatment, as well as a space for questions and clarifications of logistical and clinical nature. At the same time, it is your opportunity to sense if you would like to continue working with me and for me to determine if I can offer the kind of care you need.
In my free time, I enjoy nature, gardening, exercise, read, write, practice yoga and meditation, and my diet is 90% based on plants. I do it for my health, the health of the planet, and the welfare of animals. Along with my family and friends, I take advantage of the multiple activities that Houston has to offer and its proximity to the ocean.
Credentials & Certifications
I earned a PhD in Social Work from the University of Georgia, USA in 2002 and Master’s of Social Work (MSW-1994) and Women’s Studies (WS-1992), both from the University of Alabama, USA. I currently hold a clinical social work license in the state of Texas. To obtain my clinical license, I completed four thousand hours of supervised clinical work in Oklahoma focused on low-income, vulnerable adults, children and families, then I passed a national board exam by the Association of Social Work Boards. To maintain this license, I must take continuing education (CE) hours by approved providers and renew it every two years. Beyond required CEs, I have also completed specialized training on EMDR* and MBSR.** I haven been a member of the National Association of Social Workers since 1994 and adhere to NASW Code of Ethics. I am also a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
For details about my education, experience, publications, and presentations, please see my CV
For details about my education, experience, publications, and presentations, please see my CV
*EMDR= Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
**MBSR=Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.