Clinical Psychologist, Author, Speaker, Supervisor,
and Consultant
Monica Blum is a clinical psychologist, supervisor, consultant, and trainer who has specialized in treating complex trauma in children, teenagers, adults, couples, and families for over 30 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and her doctorate from Bowling Green State University.
Early in her career Monica worked in a community mental health center with inner city sexually abused children, their families, and involved systems including schools, child protective agencies, and the courts. In 1997, she began her private practice in Highland Park, New Jersey working with clients of all ages and all backgrounds treating attachment trauma, abuse (sexual, physical, medical, emotional, intergenerational, spiritual/religious and racial), neglect, dissociation, depression, anxiety, general life adjustments and challenges. Monica supervises licensed therapists, consults with parents, schools, medical and legal professionals, and provides support to religious institutions. Monica is also certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
Monica is known for her deeply relational and playful style that blends humor and creativity with state-of-the-art trauma healing approaches. At Rutger’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Monica supervised trainees and guest lectured on dissociation, relational trauma, and provided case formulation and consultation. She designed an anti-bullying parent empowerment program in conjunction with a local elementary school. She created a playful and somatics-based curriculum for teaching religious concepts to children. As a team member in a local synagogue, she facilitated ongoing group discussions to foster respect and cooperation about divisive issues.
Monica runs the Play and Somatics Supervision Group for licensed professionals which integrates relational playful, body and movement-based practices with trauma approaches. She interweaves Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, Polyvagal Theory, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, Structural Dissociation, mindfulness, Coherence Therapy approaches into her practice and teaching.
Monica encourages her clients, supervisees, and workshop attendees to safely experiment with scientifically grounded sensorimotor, playful practices to gain an embodied sense of how to integrate new knowledge. Her style appeals to heart and mind, evokes curiosity and joy, and supports learning, growth and self-discovery.
Monica practices and teaches with positivity, presence, care, respect, patience, compassion, and humor. In her writing and workshops Monica makes complex topics and concepts relatable and real. Monica loves what she does and energizes others to feel inspired and hopeful to facilitate change to be their best Self.
Monica presents regionally and nationally on the powers of playfulness in transforming trauma, the embodied mirroring technique she developed, nonverbal and different right-brain trauma healing practices that can be used with all clients, attunement with relationally traumatized clients, and parenting.
Early in her career Monica worked in a community mental health center with inner city sexually abused children, their families, and involved systems including schools, child protective agencies, and the courts. In 1997, she began her private practice in Highland Park, New Jersey working with clients of all ages and all backgrounds treating attachment trauma, abuse (sexual, physical, medical, emotional, intergenerational, spiritual/religious and racial), neglect, dissociation, depression, anxiety, general life adjustments and challenges. Monica supervises licensed therapists, consults with parents, schools, medical and legal professionals, and provides support to religious institutions. Monica is also certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
Monica is known for her deeply relational and playful style that blends humor and creativity with state-of-the-art trauma healing approaches. At Rutger’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Monica supervised trainees and guest lectured on dissociation, relational trauma, and provided case formulation and consultation. She designed an anti-bullying parent empowerment program in conjunction with a local elementary school. She created a playful and somatics-based curriculum for teaching religious concepts to children. As a team member in a local synagogue, she facilitated ongoing group discussions to foster respect and cooperation about divisive issues.
Monica runs the Play and Somatics Supervision Group for licensed professionals which integrates relational playful, body and movement-based practices with trauma approaches. She interweaves Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, Polyvagal Theory, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, Structural Dissociation, mindfulness, Coherence Therapy approaches into her practice and teaching.
Monica encourages her clients, supervisees, and workshop attendees to safely experiment with scientifically grounded sensorimotor, playful practices to gain an embodied sense of how to integrate new knowledge. Her style appeals to heart and mind, evokes curiosity and joy, and supports learning, growth and self-discovery.
Monica practices and teaches with positivity, presence, care, respect, patience, compassion, and humor. In her writing and workshops Monica makes complex topics and concepts relatable and real. Monica loves what she does and energizes others to feel inspired and hopeful to facilitate change to be their best Self.
Monica presents regionally and nationally on the powers of playfulness in transforming trauma, the embodied mirroring technique she developed, nonverbal and different right-brain trauma healing practices that can be used with all clients, attunement with relationally traumatized clients, and parenting.
AuthorMonica will be releasing her new book published by Routledge, Inviting the Spirit of Play to Transform Trauma with Clients of All Ages: A Therapist’s Guide to Healing in the summer of 2025. The book uniquely and holistically combines trauma treatment approaches with the power of playfully spirited practice giving new and established therapists an inspiring, practical, and scientifically-based resource to promote positive change and healing with traumatized clients of all ages.
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Accessible and intimately written, chapters show how inviting a playful mindset can accelerate healing and transformation when treating complex and chronic trauma in adults, adolescents, children, families, and couples. The book begins by establishing a practical understanding of trauma and play, and their important shared right brain relationship. It dives deeply into why play has superpowers—scientifically supported mechanisms of action—and is particularly suited to treating trauma. It interweaves and reviews supportive cutting-edge approaches including: Polyvagal Theory, affective neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, Broaden and Build Theory, Coherence Therapy, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, Structural Dissociation of the Personality, and more. Filled with clinical examples, chapters illustrate how therapists can tap into their attuned playful spirit and create a playful setting in person or online. Theory meets practice in chapters which show therapists how to playfully and respectfully frame and approach difficult trauma symptoms, the process of grief and change itself, autonomic regulation and affect tolerance, relational security, challenging dialectics, telling the trauma story, and ending treatment.
This book will empower therapists working at the heart of trauma treatment to compassionately hold space for the depth of trauma’s painful, isolating effects while embodying the life-affirming, joyful, relationally healing and transformational qualities of playfulness. Most importantly, therapists and clients will grow to have a more fun, creative, engaging, and effective trauma healing process.
Monica also developed the integrative and innovative embodied mirroring technique which helps therapists move through stuck points in treatment with children, teens, and adults in a deeply experiential, relational, and somatic way. She published an article describing embodied mirroring in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration (2015), 25 (2), 115-127 and presents engaging workshops on ways to bring embodied mirroring into clinical practice.
This book will empower therapists working at the heart of trauma treatment to compassionately hold space for the depth of trauma’s painful, isolating effects while embodying the life-affirming, joyful, relationally healing and transformational qualities of playfulness. Most importantly, therapists and clients will grow to have a more fun, creative, engaging, and effective trauma healing process.
Monica also developed the integrative and innovative embodied mirroring technique which helps therapists move through stuck points in treatment with children, teens, and adults in a deeply experiential, relational, and somatic way. She published an article describing embodied mirroring in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration (2015), 25 (2), 115-127 and presents engaging workshops on ways to bring embodied mirroring into clinical practice.
Sign Up To Be Notified About Monica's Book ReleaseInviting the Spirit of Play to Transform Trauma with Clients of All Ages: A Therapist’s Guide to Healing
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SupervisionMonica provides remote group supervision for licensed therapists who wish to integrate more creative and playful right-brain based practices into their practice with traumatized clients of all ages. Online meetings are monthly or twice a month, provide didactics, case consultation, and are highly experiential. In-person groups may be available depending upon interest.
Monica provides individual supervision when her schedule allows. |
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ConsultationMonica consults with parents, public and private schools, religious institutions, and private practitioners on the following topics:
Monica also designs creative programs and workshops to meet the specific needs of the people, organizations, and institutions for whom she consults. |
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Upcoming Events:
New York Institute for Psychotherapy Training (NYIPT)
Play Therapy and the Body:
Using Embodied Mirroring to Unpack Stuck Points in Child Treatment
November 10, 2024
Live Online Training
Play Therapy and the Body:
Using Embodied Mirroring to Unpack Stuck Points in Child Treatment
November 10, 2024
Live Online Training
More info to come!