Monica Ramil
LMFT#108945 (she/they/siya)
Licensed Psychotherapist/Owner
Monica Ramil (she/they/siya)
I was born and raised on Ramaytush Ohlone Land, now known as San Francisco (aka The City) - a place for which I have so much appreciation and pride. As the daughter of Filipino immigrants, I understand the struggle and confusion that comes from trying to navigate different cultures often with conflicting values. I know the pressures of wanting to honor your parents and their struggles while also not wanting to lose other real parts of yourself. I know the humble desire to make them proud, the sense of duty and gratitude for their sacrifices, and the fierce loyalty inherent in many immigrant families.
I also witnessed so much of my family’s unaddressed wounding. The bottling up. The silent suffering. Even the martyrdom. Whole traumas and years of pain were tucked away only to leak out in unproductive ways. Defensiveness. Narcissism. Sibling comparisons. Rigid and toxic gender roles. Spiritual bypassing. Warped definitions and displays of love. Things that were largely unconscious because the focus was on providing for our basic needs. This template for interpersonal relationships didn’t make for healthy, trusting, open connections and consequently, my relationships were rife with undertones of distrust.
I worked while in college, mostly in hospitals, and got a taste of what it was like to be of service to the vulnerable. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and worked in tech for a few years before realizing that industry was not for me. I went soul searching and traveled alone for a few months, which allowed me to connect with people from other countries and deepened my appreciation for culture and authentic connection. Upon returning, I then bartended for 10 years during which I received endless confirmations of the importance of a listening ear and feeling heard, seen. So much rich-ness in people’s stories. It was here that I realized I wanted to do more, so I went to grad school to become a therapist.
Unbeknownst to me, I was required to be in my own personal therapy. A blessing, therapy helped me work through my family stuff, helped me process emotions, face unaddressed wounding, understand problematic thoughts and behaviors, and own up to choices I’d made. Even within grad school, more than half my classes were experiential, which basically meant I was processing shit left and right. Through my desire to help others, I inadvertently began healing myself. The process was uncomfortable, hard and yes, painful. . . AND also illuminating and l i b e r a t i n g .
Which makes my work as a therapist even more meaningful…
I believe in it because I have experienced it.
I love helping others in their own journey of self-exploration, processing and healing. I feel alive connecting with others and offering hope. (This poem by Nayyirah Waheed sums up how I feel about being a therapist.)
I am committed to creating a welcoming space for all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, classes, religions, abilities, sizes, and neurodiversities. I am an advocate for social justice and equal representation.
MY APPROACH
I am engaged and curious, gentle but firm and respectful. At times, I am talkative and other times I am more of a listener. I have been described as passionate, caring, open, warm and real.
I ask questions, provide insights and reflections, offer ideas, and sometimes I simply witness. I help you explore your frustrations and challenges, while also helping you understand how past experiences have shaped who you are. We will practice tools together in session to help you navigate your life outside of session. We will discover your strengths, hone your intuition, and help you connect to your agency so you can approach life and relationships feeling more confident, empowered and intentional.
In my work with couples, my style is warm and curious, compassionate and direct. I facilitate communication & help each partner understand the other as well as feel understood. I strive to help partners understand the dynamics of their relationship while also learning about themselves as individuals. Together, we explore your strengths and challenges as a couple. We will practice new ways of communicating while also developing your capacity to be sensitive to each other's hurts and triggers. My hope is to provide both emotional support & practical tools to help you reconnect and rediscover each other in a new & healthy way.
LAND REMATRIATION
I acknowledge that I reside and practice on the unceded ancestral land of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, the original inhabitants and caretakers of the San Francisco peninsula.
A portion of my fee goes toward the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone in support of their objectives of rematriation, cultural revitalization, research, consultation, and education, ecological restoration, and community service.