I am a Marriage and Family Therapist. I've had a lot of diverse life experience and never get tired of the complexity of people and their relationships with each other. A lot of my work has been with persons who have suffered sexual and physical trauma. I've worked with those who struggle with substance abuse. I've visited many cultures and immersed myself in some to gain better understanding of homelessness and some of the unique challenges persons of color face. Despite the differences between people, it's interesting how many unsung heroes there are, and how rarely they realize it.
I've worked with ADHD, OCD and autistic spectrum issues. I have a lot of empathy and compassion for people, especially those who feel somewhat powerless. I've always been interested in what motivates people's behavior.
I have a lot of empathy for those who are down-trodden. I've been fervently involved in seeking openness and respect in society. I've worked hard to protect children in abusive situations. I've worked to intervene on behalf of and to protect people of color and LGBTQ+ people who have been unfairly treated. I've worked with groups to reach out more effectively to underserved populations.
I worked on a secured Military Base with a civilian and military population as Family Advocacy Program Manager. I worked for 15 years with inmates of correctional facilities as a professional therapist volunteer. I worked for 10 years with men and women as a professional therapist with substance abuse issues. For the same amount of time I worked with domestic violence offenders and survivors. I worked for three years with survivors of sexual assault. I worked for five years with men with sexual assault offenses.
I have a Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Later in life, I graduated with an MS in Family and Human Development from Utah State University in Logan, Utah. In 2004 I graduated with a Post-Master's Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary's University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I became licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist, and then later became certified as an approved supervisor with the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy where I am a clinical fellow.
In the 1980's as I did volunteer work for the Women and Children in Crisis Center in Provo Utah, I developed a theory I called, "Displaced Power." I use that theory to help people who feel powerless. It has seemed to me that almost anyone who comes to therapy for almost any reason feels some powerlessness. I like to help people make a shift from what I call "displaced power" toward "the power within." I help them regain or gain a sense of control over their own lives. This process has been very helpful to me personally, and many clients have complimented me on my ability to give them greater hope and a sense of their sense of being able to take more effective control of their lives. "The Power Within" is the name of my private practice.
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, LGBT, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Antisocial Personality, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant Personality, Blended Family Issues, Body image, Cancer, Chronic pain illness and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Dependent Personality, Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hearing Impaired, HIV / AIDS, Hoarding, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Narcissism, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Personality Disorders, Phobias, Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Self-love, Sex Addiction, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexual Dysfunction, Sexuality, Smoking/Vaping Cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Traumatic Brain Injury, Trichotillomania, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
UT LMFT 5788419-3902
AZ LMFT LMFT-15973
WA LMFT LF61263076
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Harold "Lanny" Monson. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Harold was my therapist for a while when I was at a really low point with my confidence, he helped me understand myself in different ways I never even thought of and showed me ways to better myself and give myself the self confidence and self love I needed and helped me overcome my hyper-dependence on people
Written on Dec 09, 2023 after therapy with Harold "Lanny" for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd
The expert upon experts. Teacher to teachers. Wise and helpful. Hard to find anyone more experienced.
Written on Sep 08, 2023 after therapy with Harold "Lanny" for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, and coaching
He's steady and constant at being a caring friend and support. Am going to be pushing more though on having goals and assignments and I want more in-depth information on cause and methods for my problems beyond mindfulness because I feel we both get off track I go into a tangent about the same old thing that's stuck in my head and we end up have a friendly chat or vent instead of him helping me learn not to do that and working more directly on stuff I need to get done and he always recommends the same stuff. I think I need a little more variety and help staying on track.
Written on Sep 24, 2022 after therapy with Harold "Lanny" for 1 year on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and career difficulties
Having worked with Lanny weekly for a year, I can honestly say he is one of the best therapists I have ever had. He has the ability to identify what strategies for conversation work best for someone and tailor sessions accordingly. For example, upon recognizing I respond well to logic and science, Lanny explained concepts in a way that I really understood. He also went out of his way to provide a wealth of guidance via messaging in between our sessions. Even though I never got around to responding, these little motivational messages always seemed to help get me through tough times. I came into therapy not really knowing what to tackle, just that I did not feel good, and have since seen my mental health improve drastically and feel equipped with the "power within" to better handle whatever life brings. I am forever grateful for Lanny's support!
Written on Mar 18, 2022 after therapy with Harold "Lanny" for 1 year on issues concerning depression, family conflicts, career difficulties, and adhd
Lanny has helped me through the hardest moments of my life, and has shown me how to balance my emotions and rational thoughts in ways I never even thought of in my years of prior therapy. I've felt more liberated from my insecurities and emotions and other's opinions of me in the months we've worked together than any time before in my life. If you want someone that will always have your back and communicate with you in a way you can hear what you need to hear, Lanny is the therapist for you.
Written on Jan 19, 2022 after therapy with Harold "Lanny" for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, and compassion fatigue
Lanny is the best therapist I have ever had. I can be completely open and honest, and almost anything that I've been through or want to talk about he has had experience with and can really give me detailed advice. If he doesn't, he'll do research and come back to the next session with new ideas and knowledge. He is fantastic at staying neutral and giving an unbiased point of view, but without making it seem like he is disinterested or uninvested in you and your progress. I'm very grateful that I was matched with him, and know that I have a safe place I can go to say whatever I need to say. He is a wonderful man, and a fantastic therapist.
Written on Jan 03, 2022 after therapy with Harold "Lanny" for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and eating disorders