Guiding You Towards Deeper, Healthier Connections
It all starts with you.
The Self-Awakening Retreat
Sri Lanka, May 9-14, 2025
Discover our transformational retreat described as “two years’ worth of therapy in six days”. Experience the life-changing power of healing the relationship you hold with yourself. This masterpiece program has been carefully designed through 22 years of integrated psychology and leading-edge practices to guide you toward freedom and authenticity.
Hi, I am Dr. Mónica
My life’s passion and calling are to bring myself and others into experiencing a tender relationship between the I and the Self. A self-loving relationship where we can heal from the journey of life, bring in joy, and rest into the safety and freedom of knowing that we are loved.
My personal and professional journey is rooted in mindfulness practices and informed by Existential Humanistic Psychotherapy. I created The HEART approach, where I invite and travel with my clients into a journey of healing and transformation through relational mindfulness.
Being a Registered Social Worker and holding a Psychology Ph.D. is my training, working with clients is my honour.
What People Are Saying
“Meeting Monica, being her student and understanding the power and reach of her theory has been completely life-altering. Not only did this certification enhanced my practice and allowed me to serve my clients better, but it also transformed my life in ways that surpassed my expectations. Through this work I developed a whole different way to coach clients and see myself, using this principles and awareness daily”.
— Anahi Ortiz-Prieto
“I have said it before and I will say it again, the experiences from the heart awakening retreats and the fundamental life changing impacts they have had in my life (and the lives of the people around me) would be worth taking a second mortgage for”.
— Mike Thorley
“I had a life-changing encounter with the HEART approach back in December 2017, which totally changed the way I saw my present and earlier close and romantic relationships. As a result of that transformation on how I conceived relationships and romance, in October 2018 I connected with my soulmate, with whom I’m living the best romantic relationship I could have imagined”.
— Carmita Prieto
FAQ’s
What is the HEART Approach?
The HEART Approach is a training therapy based in transforming and creating the relationships that we need to achieve and sustain our ideal future. HEART stands for Humanistic Existential Approach to Relationship Therapy, to put it simply it takes a scientific and emotional approach to teaching you the skills to create abundant relationships and a positive future.
Why the dragonfly?
The symbolism of the dragonfly is that of wisdom, compassion and transformation, which are the three principles embedded into the HEART approach. Just as a dragonfly, the HEART approach intends to highlight the possibility of outstanding relationships and lead the way to a world where relationships manifest through compassion, presence, empathy, authenticity, passion and joy. If you can dream it, you can have it.
How can I learn the HEART Approach?
You can start your journey with the HEART Approach by joining one of many courses or retreats. Learn more about our courses.
What People Are Also Saying
“I was one of a small group to receive this unique training back in 2016. From that point onwards my work with couples and individuals shifted to a deeper understanding of the relational experience”.
— Anil Arora
‘’I was a participant in a HEART workshop several years ago with a small gang of close friends, and it is invaluable what we learned; about ourselves, our relationships between us and with the opposite sex. Later on I continued alone with Monica and definitely, my life changed, and I achieved many personal goals. I know there is much more to go for, and I intend to raise my child and build my family in a wholehearted way”.
— Carla Ramos
Is a lack of joy in your relationships holding you back from your full potential?
✗ Over-Engaging with Personal Limitations
When you believe that the world is against you, and you engage with the thoughts of being victimized by your circumstance and people around you, you will inevitably end up experiencing the reality that you fear the most.
✗ Earning your Worthiness by Over-Giving to Others
When you were raised with the belief that in order to be loved you had to love others before you love yourself. When you bought into the idea that you will be treated the way that you treat others, you began to abandon yourself. In those moments, you gave up your right to self-love and to be loved authentically.
✗ Living with Loneliness
When you stay in an unfulfilling relationship because you are scared to leave and you don’t know what else to do to make things better, or when you are single going from one heartbreak to the next one, or have given up your hope to find true love. In those moments, either single or in a relationship, you have compromised your opportunity for the love and connection you deserve.